Ex-New Mexico judge arrested in case involving man suspected of being a
Venezuelan gang member
[April 26, 2025]
Defense lawyer Martin Stuart asked jurors to instead find Koenig guilty
of manslaughter, the least serious charge he faced, saying he did not
knowingly try to kill her. Jurors also had the option of finding him
guilty of manslaughter as a conspirator.
After seeing Bartell’s car leave the road, the three friends circled
back a few times to look again, according to testimony. Kwak took a
photo as a memento, but no one checked on the driver or called for help,
according to their testimony.
Bartell’s body would not be discovered until her girlfriend, Jenna
Griggs, who was on a call with her when it abruptly cut out, tracked her
phone to the field, she testified.
The three agreed not to talk to anyone about what happened, but Kwak,
the newest to the group of friends, later told investigators that Koenig
threw the rock. Karol-Chik, who said Koenig was like a “brother” to him,
initially pointed the finger at Kwak before changing his story and
blaming Koenig.
Karol-Chik testified that Koenig seemed “excited” as they drove by
Bartell’s car and at one point made a “whoop” sound.
“It sounded like him celebrating,” said Karol-Chik, who admitted placing
the rock next to Koenig so he could grab it and throw it.
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Koenig’s lawyers tried to cast doubt on the reliability of the other
men’s accounts but also stressed that none of the three intended to
hurt anyone. The defense declined to comment on the conviction.
Kwak entered into a plea deal first, pleading guilty in May 2024 to
first-degree assault. In doing so he acknowledged acting in a way
that created a grave risk of death. He also pleaded guilty to
second-degree assault and attempted second-degree assault for rocks
that were thrown earlier in the night. He faces between 20 and 32
years in prison, according to prosecutors.
About a week later, Karol-Chik pleaded guilty to second-degree
murder and committing a crime of violence. He also pleaded guilty to
attempted first-degree murder for throwing rocks at a total of nine
people that night and earlier in 2023. Under his agreement, Karol-Chik
could be sent to prison for between 35 and 72 years when he is
sentenced Thursday, a day before Kwak.
Koenig is to be sentenced June 3 and faces a mandatory life term for
the murder conviction.
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