Former Kentucky Sheriff Indicted for Judge's Murder in Courthouse Chambers

Shawn Stines faces a murder charge for the fatal shooting of Judge Kevin Mullins, with surveillance footage and testimony raising questions about motive.

Shawn 'Mickey' Stines, former sheriff of Letcher County, Kentucky, was indicted for the murder of District Judge Kevin Mullins on September 19, 2024.
Surveillance footage shows Stines shooting Mullins eight times in his courthouse chambers after a brief exchange, with the judge attempting to shield himself.
Authorities have not disclosed a motive, though defense attorneys suggest the act was driven by 'extreme emotional disturbance' tied to something on the judge's phone.
Stines and Mullins, longtime colleagues and friends, had lunch together hours before the shooting, with no apparent signs of conflict reported by witnesses.
If convicted, Stines could face the death penalty due to the victim's status as a public official, though his defense is seeking a reduced charge of manslaughter.