A Jefferson County choose refused to scale back the jail sentence for one of many males convicted within the killing of 20-year-old Alexa Bartell throughout a spree of rock-throwing assaults greater than two years in the past.
Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik, 21, was sentenced in May to 45 years in jail for Bartell’s demise. She was killed in April 2023 when Karol-Chik and two different youngsters threw a 9.3-pound rock by her windshield as she drove on Indiana Street close to the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge. The rock struck Bartell within the head.
In September, Karol-Chik sought to knock 10 years off his sentence by a post-sentencing assessment, citing his good habits in jail. He famous that he’d utilized for a 10-year jail training program by which he expects to obtain a bachelor’s diploma in Christian research after which work in chaplains’ places of work throughout the jail system.
First Judicial District Court Judge Christopher Zenisek, who presided over Karol-Chik’s case and imposed the unique 45-year jail sentence, opted towards holding a listening to to take heed to arguments about sentence discount and as an alternative denied Karol-Chik’s request in a quick Oct. 8 order.
“The court, in its discretion, determines that the sentence is appropriate as originally imposed due to the severity of the offense and community safety concerns,” Zenisek wrote.
Karol-Chik was convicted of second-degree homicide and tried first-degree homicide in Bartell’s killing. He confronted between 35 and 72 years in jail below the phrases of his plea settlement.
The two different individuals within the assault are additionally serving decades-long jail sentences.
Joseph Koenig, 21, was convicted of first-degree homicide in a jury trial and sentenced to life in jail. Zachary Kwak, 20, was convicted of assault and tried assault and sentenced to 32 years in jail, the utmost doable sentence.
All three males have been 18 on the time of the rock-throwing spree. They rode collectively in a truck and egged one another on as they threw rocks first at parked automobiles after which at passing automobiles because the evening went on. The driver of the truck sped up earlier than the assaults, and Koenig whooped with pleasure after Bartell was killed and her automobile drifted off the highway, testimony at trial revealed.
Prosecutors argued throughout Koenig’s jury trial that he threw the rock that killed Bartell; his protection attorneys argued that Kwak threw it. Both sides acknowledged that each one three youngsters might be convicted in Bartell’s killing no matter who threw the rock.
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