Latest news with #JeffersonCounty
CBS News
9 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
Third defendant sentenced to life without parole in Colorado prison in deadly rock-throwing case
The third and final defendant was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in a Jefferson County, Colorado courtroom on Tuesday for his role in a deadly rock-throwing case. A jury found Joseph Koenig guilty of first-degree murder in April after he threw a rock through the windshield of Alexa Bartell's moving vehicle, killing her. GOLDEN, CO - MAY 3: Defendant Joseph Koenig listens to First Judicial District Court Judge Christopher Zenisek as Koenig is formally charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault and attempted assault, in Jefferson County court on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images Koenig was also found guilty on 18 other counts for his role in throwing rocks at other vehicles in a series of incidents in Jefferson County that caused damage to vehicles and injuries to drivers. During the sentencing hearing, Bartell's mother gave an emotional statement. These moments, these milestones, were stolen from her and from me and from all of our family by these three individuals who made a conscious decision to hurl a rock through her windshield. They watched her car run off the road into the field, turned back and watched them, then got rid of the evidence, drove back to get a better look twice, took photos, whooped, and drove away. They never called for help. They made no effort to save her. Instead, they formed a pack to be blood brothers, as if taking my daughter's life was something to be proud of," said Kelly Bartell. "Alexa was my only child, my daughter, my best friend and the greatest joy of my life." Two co-defendants, Nicholas "Mitch" Karol-Chik and Zachary Kwak, pleaded guilty last year for their roles in the 2023 attack. Both men testified against Koenig as part of their plea agreements. Both claimed that it was Koenig who threw the rock that killed Bartell. Zachary Kwak Jefferson County Last month, Kwak was sentenced to 27 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for the first-degree assault charge relating to Bartell's death, five years in the DOC to be served consecutively for a second-degree assault charge in the series of rock-throwing attacks and another sentence of eight years in the DOC to be served concurrently for another count of second-degree assault for a total of 32 years in prison with 738 days credit for time served. Nicholas "Mitch" Karol-Chik Jefferson County The day before Kwak's sentencing, Nicholas "Mitch" James Karol-Chik was sentenced to 45 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors. Last May, he pleaded guilty to his role in a series of rock-throwing attacks between Feb. 25, 2023, and April 19, 2023. Alexa Bartell Alexa Bartell's family Twenty-year-old Bartell was struck and killed late at night on April 19, 2023, when she was struck by a rock that was thrown into her windshield. Several others were injured in similar incidents with what authorities described as "large landscaping rocks," concrete, and in one case, a statue. Her mom said losing her daughter has impacted every facet of her life, "It didn't just change my life. It changed who I am. Losing my daughter didn't just break my heart. It broke me. It shattered my soul. Everything I see and live is different now, my desires, my dreams, my relationships, all are touched by this grief. There isn't any part of my life that has not been touched by grief. My family will never be the same."
The Independent
12 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
‘You guys are hilarious' Homeowner unimpressed with cop's attempt to get bobcat out of her house with laser pointer
Showing now | News 00:25 Zack Palomo A Colorado homeowner was left unimpressed by police efforts to get a bobcat out of her house. The wild animal wandered into a home in Ken Caryl and settled behind the owner's TV on May 22. Jefferson County Sheriff's Office deputies tried to lure the bobcat out by shining lasers from their tasers in front of it. The bobcat doesn't appear to react to the bait. 'I don't know, cats like lasers,' one deputy can be heard saying in the bodycam footage. 'It's not a normal cat,' another deputy responds. 'You guys are hilarious,' the homeowner tells the officers. According to the sheriff's office, the bobcat eventually left of its own accord through the back door.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Education Department investigating Jeffco schools for Title IX concerns on 2023 school trip
DENVER (KDVR) — The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights is taking actions throughout June to honor the 53rd anniversary of Title IX being signed into law, and one of the first actions announced Monday is directed at Jefferson County Public Schools. Title IX is a federal civil rights law that was enacted in 1972, prohibiting sex-based discrimination in any school or educational program that receives federal funding. 'Kelly Loving Act': Colorado lawmakers push for more transgender protections The federal department said Monday that it will direct investigations into the University of Wyoming and Jeffco Public Schools 'for allegedly allowing males to join and live in female-only intimate and communal spaces.' The Department of Education said it notified Jeffco Schools' superintendent about the investigation, stating the investigation is for the district's policy regarding overnight accommodations and gender identity. On July 24 of last year, the district's board of education revised an existing policy for transgender students, stating that students have a right to be addressed by the name and pronouns associated with their gender identity, be able to use restrooms assigned to their gender identity consistently asserted at school and creating a case-by-case framework for transgender or gender nonconforming students who need to use a locker room 'with the goals of maximizing the student's social integration and equal opportunity to participate in physical educations classes and (sports).' The policy specifically addresses overnight stay accommodations as well, which is also determined on a case-by-case basis, according to the policy, but with the goals of maximizing the student's social integration and providing equal opportunity to participate in overnight activity and athletic trips. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox 'In most cases, students who are transgender should be assigned to share overnight accommodations with other students that share the student's gender identity consistently asserted at school,' the policy states. 'Any alternative arrangement should be provided in a way that allows the student's transgender status to be kept confidential. Under no circumstance shall a student who is transgender be required to share a room with students whose gender identity conflicts with their own.' The Education Department said the district's policy removes 'the safeguard of single-sex overnight accommodations.' 'This comes amid several disturbing reports, including that parents of an 11-year-old girl in the district discovered their daughter would have had to share a bed with a male student on an overnight school trip without being notified by the school,' the U.S. Department of Education asserted in a press release. 'The district allegedly misleads parents by informing them that girls and boys will be separated for overnight accommodations without divulging that its definition of 'girl' includes boys who claim a female identity.' FOX31 spoke with the parents of the referenced 11-year-old girl in December 2023, who said the trip was to Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia during the summer of 2023. The girl was sharing a hotel room with three other girls. 'Her bedmate informed her that he was a boy who identifies as transgender,' the girl's mother told FOX31. The mother was also on the trip and said her daughter called her from the bathroom. 'She actually got along really well with the other student, but just felt uncomfortable with the idea of being in bed with a biological boy,' she said. Colorado officials address Homeland Security's 'sanctuary jurisdiction' list Jeffco Schools provided FOX31 with this statement in December 2023: 'Regarding the December 4 demand letter to Jeffco Public Schools from the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF): In Jeffco Public Schools, student safety is paramount and partnership with families is a priority. We take this situation seriously. Because the district was only recently informed, and the trip occurred outside of the school year and through a private travel organization, we are still determining facts. However, it appears that the student's transgender status was not known when room assignments were made and our understanding is that as soon as their transgender identity was known, room assignments were adjusted. We are working with the private travel organization to learn more and we anticipate a more detailed response by December 18 as ADF requests.' Jefferson County Public Schools Secretary of Education Linda McMahan said the recognition of Title IX Month demonstrates the department's goal 'to honor women's hard-earned civil rights and demonstrate the Trump Administration's unwavering commitment to restoring them to the fullest extent of the law.' 'This Administration will fight on every front to protect women's and girls' sports, intimate spaces, dormitories and living quarters, and fraternal and panhellenic organizations,' McMahon said in the announcement. The school district provided a statement on the pending investigation to FOX31 on Monday. 'Jeffco Public Schools follows all Colorado state laws when it comes to how we treat students, staff and families. There is nothing in the language of Title IX that prohibits the degree of protection that the State of Colorado provides. Overnight accommodations are managed in accordance with district policy regulation JB-R2, which is grounded in Colorado's Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA), specifically Rule 81.9 – Gender-Segregated Facilities. Families always have the ultimate choice whether their student participates in any unique programming that involves overnight accommodations. We are unwavering in our commitment to the well-being of our students, staff, and families, and we strictly adhere to all Colorado state laws governing their treatment. Jefferson County Public Schools spokesperson It's unclear what will be involved in the investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mass shooting in Fayette leaves one dead, multiple injured
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – One person died and multiple people were injured during a mass shooting in Fayette. According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, six people were shot during the Fayette Festival on Main Street just before 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 31. Man dies after being shot multiple times in Jackson Officials said two medevac helicopters transported victims to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). The victims have not been identified, and there's no suspect information at this time. Fayette police, Jefferson County deputies and agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) responded to the scene. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Missing kayaker found safe in Jefferson County
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) — UPDATE: All seven have been located, according to Jefferson County Search and Rescue. ORIGINAL: Birmingport Fire Department searching for missing kayaker The Birmingport Fire Department is searching for a kayaker on Valley Creek. Firefighters say the kayaker was part of a group of seven who capsized Saturday evening. Six of the seven have been located safe. Stay with CBS 42 as this is a developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
