Current:Home > MarketsKentucky sheriff accused of killing judge in Letcher County pleads not guilty -EquityExchange
Kentucky sheriff accused of killing judge in Letcher County pleads not guilty
View
Date:2025-04-17 13:13:22
GRAYSON, Ky. — In his first court appearance Wednesday morning, the Kentucky sheriff accused of fatally shooting a district judge inside his courthouse last week pleaded not guilty.
Letcher County Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines, who appeared virtually while he remains jailed in Leslie County, is being represented by public defender Josh Miller until someone more permanent fills the role.
Stines is accused of shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins inside his private chambers Thursday afternoon, six days before the arraignment. He will appear next Tuesday at 1 p.m. for his preliminary hearing.
The case against Kentucky Sheriff Mickey Stines
Stines' case made national headlines when the shooting happened last week, bringing a spotlight to Whitesburg, in southeastern Kentucky near the Virginia border.
Stines, who's served as the town's sheriff since he was elected in 2018, is accused of shooting Mullins, who'd been the town's judge since 2009, in his private chambers at the Letcher County courthouse just before 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon. There were other people in the building, though it's unclear how much of the confrontation they may have seen.
No one else was injured, and Stines, 43, surrendered at the scene. He's been held since then at the jail in Leslie County, about 50 miles east of Whitesburg. Wednesday's court hearing took place in Carter County, north of those two communities.
No motive has been released, and Stines has not spoken since the shooting. The two men had been friends, Whitesburg residents have said, with a long working relationship — Stines served as a bailiff in court for Mullins, 54, before winning his election.
Coverage from Whitesburg:The question haunting a Kentucky town: Why would the sheriff shoot the judge?
The men also had deep ties to the community, which has had an impact on the case. Letcher County Commonwealth's Attorney Matt Butler recused himself because of his familial ties to Mullins — they were each married to a pair of sisters at one time — and the case is now being handled by special prosecutor Jackie Steele, a commonwealth's attorney for a nearby jurisdiction, along with Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman.
District Judge Rupert Wilhoit has been appointed to serve as special judge in the case. Wednesday's hearing took place in his courtroom.
A stay in an open federal case
Stines is a defendant in an ongoing federal lawsuit over allegations a former sheriff's deputy traded favorable treatment for a woman on home incarceration in exchange for sexual favors inside Mullins' private courthouse office. A second woman later joined the case.
The deputy in that case, Ben Fields, pleaded guilty to several state charges in that case including third-degree rape and was released from prison on probation this summer after serving several months behind bars. Stines was not accused of trading sex for favorable treatment but is accused of failing to train and monitor Fields, and Mullins was not accused of wrongdoing.
Stines was deposed in that case for more than four hours on Sept. 16, three days before the shooting, but attorneys for the plaintiffs said last week they aren't sure whether Mullins' death was connected to that testimony.
Plaintiffs filed a motion calling for mediation last week, as the discovery in the case is "almost complete." But attorneys for both sides requested a stay for at least 60 days following the shooting — U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward B. Atkins granted that request in a Monday order.
Reporter Marina Johnson contributed. Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com.
veryGood! (97832)
Related
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- Nearly a decade into Timberwolves career, Karl-Anthony Towns has been waiting for this moment.
- 3 injured, 1 arrested at Skyline High School's graduation in Oakland, California: Police
- Thai town overrun by wild monkeys trying trickery to catch and send many away
- 'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
- NASA says Boeing's Starliner crew capsule safe to fly as is with small helium leak
- 2 climbers die on Mount Everest, 3 still missing on world's highest mountain: It is a sad day
- Lenny Kravitz tells Gayle King about his insecurities: I still have these moments
- Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
- Lenny Kravitz says he's open to finding love: I've never felt how I feel now
Ranking
- Bodycam footage shows high
- In one North Carolina county, it’s ‘growth, growth, growth.’ But will Biden reap the benefit?
- Trump TV: Internet broadcaster beams the ex-president’s message directly to his MAGA faithful
- Judge rejects motion to dismiss involuntary manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin in Halyna Hutchins shooting
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- What you can do to try to stay safe when a tornado hits, and also well beforehand
- Theater show spotlights the stories of those who are Asian American and Jewish
- Bear shot dead by Arizona game officers after swipe attack on teen in mountain cabin
Recommendation
US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
Walmart ends credit card partnership with Capital One, but shoppers can still use their cards
Horoscopes Today, May 23, 2024
2024 Indianapolis 500: Start time, TV, live stream, lineup and key info for Sunday's race
John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
Sister of Israeli hostage seen in harrowing video says world needs to see it, because people are forgetting
He fell ill on a cruise. Before he boarded the rescue boat, they handed him the bill.
3 falcon chicks hatch atop the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in New York City