New Details Emerge About Former Kentucky Sheriff Accused of Killing Judge

A former Kentucky sheriff accused of fatally shooting a judge is expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, 43, is facing a first-degree murder charge for allegedly shooting and killing District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, inside the Letcher County Courthouse on September 19.
Stines retired from the position on Monday.
The hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Morgan County Judicial Center in West Liberty, Kentucky. It will be the former sheriff’s first time inside of a courthouse since the fatal incident occurred.
Prosecutors are expected to present their case against Stines and a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence to send the case to a grand jury.
Stines was arraigned on the charge on Wednesday. He appeared virtually from the Leslie County Detention Center as he stood between public defender Josh Miller and Leslie County Jailer Danny Clark.
Miller entered a not guilty plea on Stines’ behalf.
Chief Regional Judge Rupert Wilhoit appointed the public defender’s office to represent Stines at the preliminary hearing, but told Stines that he may need to obtain his own counsel as the case proceeds.
State police said their preliminary investigation found that the shooting happened during an argument inside the courthouse.
Stines was first elected as sheriff in 2018, then re-elected in 2022. He could face the death penalty if convicted.
Mullins was a judge in the 47th Judicial District. He was first appointed in 2009 by former Gov. Steve Beshear. He was elected to the position the following year.
“Sadly, I have been informed that a district judge in Letcher County was shot and killed in his chambers this afternoon. There is far too much violence in this world, and I pray there is a path to a better tomorrow,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said on X following the shooting.
The community gathered to mourn Mullins on September 22.
“His passion for people was his magic touch. He can’t begin to count the number of lives that he saved or improved,” state Supreme Court Judge Debra Lambert said at the funeral. “Our court family aches at his loss.”
Lambert served on the state Judicial Commission on Mental Health with Mullins.
Matt Brown, president of Addiction Recovery Care in Kentucky, said Mullins would send low-level drug offenders to rehab instead of jail.
“He was an innovator,” Brown said. “He was way ahead of the curve.”
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