Kentucky sheriff who ‘shot judge dead in courthouse’ remains emotionless as he pleads not guilty

The Kentucky sheriff who shot and killed a judge in his office kept a grim face as he pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines made his first court appearance after allegedly walking into the Letcher County Courthouse in Kentucky last Thursday and fatally shooting Judge Kevin Mullins.

The virtual arraignment was held with Stines appearing remotely from the Leslie County Detention Center. He did not comment on the charges during the hearing and prosecutors presented no evidence.

Sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines appeared for the first time since the fatal shooting of Judge Mullins last Thursday for a virtual arraignment

Judge Kevin Mullins, who served as a judge for 15 years, was fatally shot multiple times and died at the scene

Stines was also questioned by Regional District Chief Judge Ruper Wilhoit about his financial status after he requested a court-appointed judge.

Public Defender Josh Miller said, “Sir, it is my understanding that he is about to lose his job as sheriff of Letcher County, and he will have no income going forward,” he reported CNN.

Miller was granted permission to represent Stines until his next court appearance. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 1, where any evidence will be presented. After that, however, Stines may have to hire his own attorney.

Stines remains in custody without bail following the arraignment, CNN reported.

Mullins, who served as a judge for 15 years, died at the scene and Stines surrendered without incident.

The motive for the shooting is still under investigation. Kentucky State Police reported last week that the two had a brief altercation in the judge’s chambers before the sheriff shot him multiple times, according to The New York Times.

County Court Clerk Mike Watts also saw the two having lunch together hours beforehand. Watts said he had worked with both men at the courthouse for years and “thought they were all friends,” the outlet reported.

Mullins’ former brother-in-law, Matt Butler, who is also the Letcher County prosecutor, shared a video remembering him.

He said, ‘[My children] lost their uncle. My beautiful nieces lost their father.’

Butler also said the courthouse where the shooting occurred is “one of the last ones you can walk into without a metal detector or security at the front door” and said that is “unacceptable in 2024.”

‘[My children] lost their uncle. My beautiful nieces lost their father,” said former brother-in-law Matt Butler

The virtual arraignment was held with Stines appearing remotely from the Leslie County Detention Center. He did not comment on the charges during the hearing, and prosecutors presented no evidence.

Patty Wood, the widow of District Judge Jim Wood and Mullin’s predecessor, said KCRA: ‘I know Mickey’s character. And I know there had to be something that did it. You couldn’t find a better person on earth than Mickey Stines. I don’t know what happened.’

After pulling Mullin aside for a private conversation, Stines locked the door. Cell phones were then pulled out and passed around, at which point the father of two pulled out his gun and shot Mullins repeatedly.

Earlier this month, Stines was questioned in an ongoing case against a former officer accused of sexually assaulting a former inmate.

The lawsuit accuses Stines of “willful indifference by failing to adequately train and supervise his former deputy.” Stines denied any wrongdoing after he also fired the deputy in question, the New York Times reported.

According to the outlet, Governor Andy Beshear wants the sheriff to resign by Friday.