Former Letcher County sheriff back in court in judge’s shooting death case

LETCHER COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) –
Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, accused in the shooting death of District Court Judge Kevin Mullins, appeared in court Friday for a status hearing.

According to court proceedings, the judge did not make any rulings on Stines’ bond, dismissing his indictment, or releasing his psychiatric report. Both the prosecution and defense now have until Tuesday, September 2, to gather additional information before returning to court.

Stines is charged with murder in connection to the September 2024 shooting that video evidence appears to show happening inside Judge Mullins’ chambers at the Letcher County Courthouse. His attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss the indictment, claiming prosecutors held an “off-the-record” meeting with grand jurors and failed to turn over key records.