Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024 # 2

[Seattle1]

Post in thread 'Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024'

Sep 21, 2024

https://twitter.com/x/status/1837479436129566818

From the quoted link:

Like Watts, many were shocked to hear Stines is potentially behind the deadly shooting as he's known around town as a 'family man.'

'I know Mickey’s character. And I know there had to be something that did it,' Patty Wood, the widow of District Judge Jim Wood - Mullins predecessor - told the outlet. 'You couldn’t find a better person on the face of the earth than Mickey Stines. I don’t know what happened.

'I just cannot believe that he just went in and shot him for no reason.'

Jennifer L. Taylor, a Whitesburg attorney, said...

• Seattle1

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[Friday Fan]

FBI investigates Addiction Recovery Care in Kentucky for possible health care fraud

Addiction Recovery Care, or ARC, runs over 30 treatment centers in Kentucky. Now it’s under federal scrutiny.

www.lpm.org

What does this have to do with this case?

There isn't even a facility in Lechter County.

Why would a judge be murdered by a sheriff over some federal investigation of treatment centers that aren't even located within the county? Lots of medical facilities are investigated all over the country. Are judges murdered over them? Judges in every county in the country have diversion programs. We have a huge program where I live. I'm sure facilities have been investigated. No one has gotten murdered over it.

 

[Angelcat13]

FBI investigates Addiction Recovery Care in Kentucky for possible health care fraud

Addiction Recovery Care, or ARC, runs over 30 treatment centers in Kentucky. Now it’s under federal scrutiny.

www.lpm.org

Again, this is like the “Kids for Cash” scandal in Luzerne County, PA.

 

[Angelcat13]

What does this have to do with this case?

I believe they are wondering if recent investigations into kick-backs for encouraging or sending someone to rehab could have played a role in this murder.

 

[Friday Fan]

I believe they are wondering if recent investigations into kick-backs for encouraging or sending someone to rehab could have played a role in this murder.

That doesn't make sense. I'm sorry. There are programs like this all over the country. Why would the sheriff murder him over that?
Cronyism is pretty much all over the place. Heck, might as well investigate the ankle bracelet company and the private detention center. (They always get kickbacks and they're involved with that sheriff deputy scandal)

I thought he murdered him because of his daughter and wife?

 

[Seattle1]

What does this have to do with this case?

ARC is a for profit rehab with strong political ties to some names we've seen mentioned on this thread including the Gov and the AG. Owner of ARC is an attorney being investigated for insurance fraud. Mullins favors sending offenders who come before him to ARC and Stines drives them to the facility. Could be a nexus to Mullins or both Mullins and Stines. Kickpacks are alive and real-- even in KY. JMO

 

[Friday Fan]

ARC is a for profit rehab with strong political ties to some names we've seen mentioned on this thread including the Gov and the AG. Owner of ARC is an attorney being investigated for insurance fraud. Mullins favors sending offenders who come before him to ARC and Stines drives them to the facility. Could be a nexus to Mullins or both Mullins and Stines. Kickpacks are alive and real-- even in KY. JMO

I don't think this is a motive for murder. Deputy Fields worked at a local private detention facility and Fields had sex in Mullin's chambers.

It's totally far fetched.

 

[Seattle1]

That doesn't make sense. I'm sorry. There are programs like this all over the country. Why would the sheriff murder him over that?

If Mullins was throwing Stines under the bus to save himself from federal indictment for ARC fraudulent billing, that might ruffle a hot tempered Stines who is trying to put out the flames caused by then Mullins Baillif, Ben Fields. Take note that "Sheriff Stiens" is responsible for the County Budget here in the pending civil lawsuit. Perhaps Stines believed Mullins had knowledge that Fields was using his Chambers to assault inmates on house release and failed to bring it to Stines attention. Possible connections -- speculative and MOO.

 

[Friday Fan]

If Mullins was throwing Stines under the bus to save himself from federal indictment, that might ruffle a hot tempered Stines who is trying to put out the flames caused by then Mullins Baillif, Ben Fields. Take note that "Sheriff Stiens" is responsible for the County Budget here in the pending civil lawsuit. Perhaps Stines believed Mullins had knowledge that Fields was using his Chambers to assault inmates on house release and failed to bring it to Stines attention. Possible connections -- speculative and MOO.

Why would Mullins be under federal indictment? States contract with private facilities all the time. Yes, it's cronyism, but that's the way states work. The state has marching orders: "Send them to xyz". Same with private prisons. States have standing orders for facilities.

Once again, this kinda seems to be victim blaming.

BTW: Fields also assaulted women in his car and the courthouse elevator and I believe even in their homes.

 

[Seattle1]

dbm

 

[Kemug]

I wonder if a psychiatrist has seen the Sheriff? It's not impossible that he thought that the "they" trying to kidnap his family were little green Martians.

 

[Seattle1]

I wonder if a psychiatrist has seen the Sheriff? It's not impossible that he thought that the "they" trying to kidnap his family were little green Martians.

Or the Iowa Ninjas wearing black sweaters and sunglasses (a la Mollie Tibbets).

 

[UK Feline]

@Luna20 : Don't know. Looks like posters of miners ? Imo.
The black nylon-looking square accessory in the left front, on the desk, looks like a Yeti Daytrip Lunch Bag. They're 80.00 $ at Dicks' Sporting Goods.

It's a quilt hanging on the wall.

 

[Friday Fan]

ARC is a for profit rehab with strong political ties to some names we've seen mentioned on this thread including the Gov and the AG. Owner of ARC is an attorney being investigated for insurance fraud. Mullins favors sending offenders who come before him to ARC and Stines drives them to the facility. Could be a nexus to Mullins or both Mullins and Stines. Kickpacks are alive and real-- even in KY. JMO

They're being investigated for primarily for work related issues and non-medically necessary procedures.

Generally, it goes like this: Judge refers a defendant for treatment. Assigned a case worker. Case worker says: "Go to xyz" (Probably in this case, the options are limited, so they go to "z")

Now I've never been sent to anything by a court. (Except for those defensive driving classes, which are optional and I pay for those myself) And I have no idea whether the state pays for the treatment or the client pays. If the state pays, I don't know if Medicaid is involved.

I'm sure judges all across the state are doing the same thing.

https://www.kentucky.com/news/health-and-medicine/article289919004.html?taid=66b33ea0377b7b00016f630a&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

 

[sunshineray]

"Stamper testified Stines requested to see the judge’s phone and then attempted to call his daughter from Mullins’s phone"
With no audio, how is Stamper able/allowed to testify such a statement?

Is there a probable cause-like document involved in sending a case to a grand jury? Is it under seal?

 

[Seattle1]

They're being investigated for primarily for work related issues and non-medically necessary procedures.

Generally, it goes like this: Judge refers a defendant for treatment. Assigned a case worker. Case worker says: "Go to xyz" (Probably in this case, the options are limited, so they go to "z")

Now I've never been sent to anything by a court. (Except for those defensive driving classes, which are optional and I pay for those myself) And I have no idea whether the state pays for the treatment or the client pays. If the state pays, I don't know if Medicaid is involved.

I'm sure judges all across the state are doing the same thing.

https://www.kentucky.com/news/health-and-medicine/article289919004.html?taid=66b33ea0377b7b00016f630a&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

MSM is dated August 7 -- you've missed some news. Get with the program @Friday Fan!

 

[Florida_marlin]

Is jury nullification an option in KY felony murder cases?

Jury nullification is always an option in the United States, any state, anytime. It’s rare, but it does happen. Once a jury is seated, they can vote to acquit over and above any instruction given by the judge. Juries have the ultimate power to judge the law and the facts. Judges and prosecutors will tell and instruct juries otherwise. In fact, most clearly state that the jury is only allowed to judge the facts. But that’s not true. Once seated and decision made, it’s done. It’s very rare due to the fact it’s improbable to get 12 at one time on a jury of the same mind to nullify.

 

[acehard]

IIRC there was some discussion upthread about whether Stines had actually said something like "they're trying to *TAKE* my wife and kid -- which is a word with much broader meaning than *kidnap*

I was going to mention this. On the day it happened, this statement was already leaked on social media and I saw the word 'take'. I don't know what was actually said and obviously it makes a big difference. IMO

 

[Chimera]

It's a quilt hanging on the wall.

Yes, you're correct --- and it's a creative take on the mining business there in that state ... this was already discussed and the enhanced photos showed the quilt in a clearer frame; and I did acknowledge this.

Welcome to Websleuths, @UK Feline !

 

[Live_and_Learn]

ARC is a for profit rehab with strong political ties to some names we've seen mentioned on this thread including the Gov and the AG. Owner of ARC is an attorney being investigated for insurance fraud. Mullins favors sending offenders who come before him to ARC and Stines drives them to the facility. Could be a nexus to Mullins or both Mullins and Stines. Kickpacks are alive and real-- even in KY. JMO

Exactly. No one said he was murdered over this. I was assuming by this point in the second thread of discussion, relevance would be obvious. I found it and posted it right before I went to sleep, not thinking it required this explanation. Apologies, and thank you, Seattle1!