WHITESBURG, Ky. — A former Kentucky sheriff, charged with the murder of a district judge, is set to appear for an arraignment this Monday. The hearing follows a recent indictment by a grand jury, which charged him with the murder of a public official in an incident that has shaken the local community.
Shawn “Mickey” Stines, 43, who has pleaded not guilty, is accused in the killing of Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins, which occurred within the judge’s own office. Stines, who was serving as the county sheriff at the time of the alleged crime, has since resigned from his position.
This upcoming court appearance marks Stines’ first return to the Letcher County courthouse, the very location of the alleged murder, since the fateful day. Previously, legal proceedings were conducted more than a hundred miles away as the courthouse remained closed temporarily.
This arraignment will also be Stines’ initial court appearance since a preliminary hearing last month where sufficient evidence was found to advance the case. The prosecution, led by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman and Commonwealth’s Attorney Jackie Steele, announced the grand jury’s decision last Thursday to formally indict Stines.
If convicted, Stines faces the possibility of the death penalty. The charges stem from events on the afternoon of Sept. 19, when Letcher County authorities discovered Judge Mullins with multiple gunshot wounds. Stines reportedly surrendered at the crime scene shortly after.
During a prior hearing, the prosecution presented surveillance footage from Judge Mullins’ office that allegedly captured Stines shooting Mullins multiple times. After seeming to notice movement from the judge beneath a desk, Stines apparently fired additional shots.
Although Stines’ defense attorneys acknowledged that their client was the shooter, they contended he was experiencing an “extreme emotional disturbance,” suggesting that a manslaughter charge would be more fitting than murder.
The motive behind the killing remains undisclosed by prosecutors. However, testimony from Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper revealed that before the shooting, Stines used both his and Mullins’ phones to make calls to his daughter. According to Stamper, phone records indicated prior calls from Mullins’ phone to Stines’ daughter.
Evidence also indicated that both men had shared a meal with others shortly before the incident without any visible discord. Yet, according to witness accounts relayed by Stamper, Mullins had invited Stines to a private meeting in his chambers shortly before the shooting.
As this case unfolds, it continues to capture attention due to its dramatic elements and tragic implications, touching the lives of many in the small community of Letcher County and beyond.
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