Nicholas Karol-Chik, who entered a guilty plea in 2024 for the fatal rock-throwing event that claimed the life of 20-year-old Alexa Bartell, was sentenced to 45 years in the Department of Corrections on Thursday.
In May 2024, Karol-Chik entered a guilty plea on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree criminal attempt to commit murder, and crime of violence. The judge stated during his plea that Karol-Chik would not be given a life sentence but rather the maximum penalty, which is between 35 and 72 years.
Karol-Chik was sentenced by a judge Thursday morning to 45 years in the Department of Corrections, which he will serve in addition to the 737 days he has already served in prison.
Three high school kids were hurling big landscaping stones at oncoming motorists on the evening of April 19, 2023. Bartell was killed when a rock struck her in the head as she was driving in Jefferson County and passed through the windscreen.
Over the course of two years, the three 18-year-olds who were accused with involvement in the fatal incident either entered guilty pleas or were found guilty by a jury.
When the lethal rock was thrown, Karol-Chik was seated in the truck’s front seat. In court, he provided testimony against the rock-throwing individual, Joseph Koenig. In the end, a jury in April found Koenig guilty of first-degree murder and 18 other crimes.
On one count of first-degree assault, one count of second-degree assault, and an additional count of criminal attempt to commit assault, Zachary Kwak, who was in the vehicle, entered a guilty plea in May 2024. He will serve a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of 32 years as part of the plea agreement.
Kwak’s sentencing is scheduled for Friday.
A number of people gave family impact statements at the sentencing.
Family members of Alexa Bartell, including her parents, girlfriend, and cousins, talked about how happy and kind she was, as well as how devastated they had been since she passed away. A number of relatives demanded that Karol-Chik be held completely responsible.
“What happened to Alexa wasn’t a prank, it was a reckless and deliberate act that not only ended her life, but it shattered the lives of those of us who loved her. Nothing is the same anymore. My family isn’t the same anymore,” said one of Bartell’s cousins.
“This individual’s perception of a ‘fun night out’ is throwing rocks at oncoming cars, and they did that on multiple, multiple occasions until they finally accomplished their ultimate goal,” said Bartell’s father.
The court also heard testimony from Karol-Chik’s parents.
According to Karol-Chik’s father, the loss of Bartell’s family will be felt by his family for the rest of their life. Additionally, his father said that they adore Karol-Chik and will support him no matter what.
According to his mother, Karol-Chik has been the subject of nothing but disparaging remarks for the last two years.
“My son is not a mean person. He is the most wonderful, gentle soul. He would never hurt anyone on purpose,” said Karol-Chik.
Karol-Chik also spoke at the sentencing. He conveyed his profound sadness and apologised to the family.
“The hardest part to make sense of is why it took someone losing their life for me to really think about the consequences of our actions, and I want to be very clear, that is the actions of who i was, but not the actions of who I am, and they are not the actions of who I want to be,” said Karol-Chik.
