One of the three teenagers accused of killing a 20-year-old woman by throwing large rocks at cars in Colorado has entered a guilty plea to reduced charges, according to prosecutors.
Both Karol-Chik and Koenig have entered pleas of not guilty.
Kwak admitted his guilt in the first-degree assault charge related to Bartell’s death on April 19, 2023. He acknowledged that his actions posed a serious threat to Bartell’s life, according to the statement from King’s office. Additionally, Kwak pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and attempted second-degree assault for the incidents involving rocks that were allegedly thrown from their truck earlier that night, resulting in injuries to three individuals.
Kwak pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him, which resulted in the dismissal of more severe charges, including first-degree murder. Prosecutors have stated that Kwak could face a prison term ranging from 20 to 32 years. However, his sentencing will not take place until September 3, after the separate trials of Karol-Chik and Koenig.
Karol-Chik’s lawyer, Holly Gummerson, chose not to provide any comments regarding the plea deal or the accusations against her client. The lawyers representing Koenig did not respond to phone calls or emails seeking their comments.
According to prosecutors, Karol-Chik’s pickup truck was used by all three individuals to drive around on the night Bartell was killed. They allegedly loaded the truck with landscaping rocks that they had taken from a Walmart.
According to investigators, it has been determined that Bartell lost his life due to the impact of the rock, rather than the crash itself.
