A former Kentucky sheriff accused of killing a county judge in his chambers two months ago is set to appear in court for an arraignment on Monday. The suspect, Shawn “Mickey” Stines, 43, has pleaded not guilty to the fatal shooting of Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins, a tragic incident that shocked their small community.
Stines, who was the county sheriff at the time of the shooting, has since resigned from his position. A grand jury has formally indicted Stines on the charge of murder of a public official, which could potentially lead to the death penalty if he is convicted.
The indictment, announced by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman and Commonwealth’s Attorney Jackie Steele, does not provide any new insights into a possible motive for the shooting. This case has garnered significant attention due to the nature of the crime and the individuals involved.
Monday's arraignment will be Stines’ first appearance in court since a preliminary hearing held last month, during which a judge found probable cause to refer the case to a grand jury. The hearing took place over 100 miles away from the Letcher County courthouse, which was temporarily closed following the tragic incident.
Authorities responded to the Letcher County courthouse on September 19 to discover Judge Mullins had sustained gunshot wounds. Stines surrendered to authorities at the scene, and surveillance footage from Mullins’ chambers played during the hearing showed the sequence of events leading up to the shooting.
While defense attorneys did not dispute that Stines shot Mullins, they argued that he was experiencing an “extreme emotional disturbance” at the time of the incident. The full video footage revealed Stines making phone calls before the shooting, with phone records indicating prior communication between Stines and the judge’s daughter.
Investigators have been piecing together the events leading up to the tragic shooting, including a lunch meeting between the two men and a cryptic exchange mentioned by witnesses. The case has raised questions about the relationship between Stines and Mullins and the circumstances that led to such a violent act.
