The first of three defendants in the deadly Jefferson County rock-throwing case was sentenced on Thursday. Nicholas “Mitch” James Karol-Chik pleaded guilty last May in Alexa Bartell’s death in an agreement reached with the prosecution.
Karol-Chik pleaded guilty to his role in a series of rock-throwing attacks between Feb. 25, 2023 and April 19, 2023. In that agreement, the prosecution dismissed the original charges and added three new charges, including second-degree murder, criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree, and crime of violence.
According to the plea agreement, prosecutors said Karol-Chik would serve a minimum of 35 years and up to 72 years in the Department of Corrections. The judge said the deal did not allow for sentencing in the youth offender program. As part of the agreement, Karol-Chik agreed to testify against fellow defendant Joseph Koenig.
On Thursday, the judge sentenced Karol-Chik to 45 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.
Bartell’s parents spoke at the sentencing, detailing how the actions of the then-teenagers impacted the rest of their lives…