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

[KonaHonu]

One interesting thing to know would be if Stines had ever shot someone in the line of duty. There are plenty of reasons why he may have of course so I don't think it would say anything about his character. But it would probably tell us a little about his headspace both before and after the shooting of Mullins.

I'd also be interested in any disciplinary record from his time as a deputy.

 

[vls12345]

Sheriff charged with fatally shooting a judge pleads not guilty in first court appearance - The Interior Journal

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Wilhoit appointed Miller to defend Stines at the next hearing iLetcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines had his first court appearance Wednesday morning, following his arrest for last week’s shooting death of Letcher District Judge Kevin D. Mullins...

www.theinteriorjournal.com

Wilhoit appointed Miller to defend Stines at the next hearing iLetcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines had his first court appearance Wednesday morning, following his arrest for last week’s shooting death of Letcher District Judge Kevin D. Mullins.

Stines had a virtual arraignment before a Carter District judge on a charge of murder in the first degree. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf, since you cannot plead guilty to a felony in district court.

The Kentucky State Police is investigating the case. Jackie Steele, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Knox and Laurel counties, and Deputy Executive Director of the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Unit Ramsey Dallam will prosecute the case on behalf of the Commonwealth.

Here's the page that lists the attorney who appeared with Stines this week:

Capital Trial Branch - Department of Public Advocacy

Josh Miller | Directing AttorneyCapital Trial Section | East Phone 859-246-2333 Address163 W Short StreetSuite 555Lexington, KY 40507 Fax859-246-2338 The Capital Trial Section—East is led by Directing Attorney Josh Miller and supported by attorneys, an investigator, a mitigation specialist, and...

dpa.ky.gov

Here is info about the prosecuting team, Jackie Steele & Ramsey Dallam.

Commonwealth's and County Attorneys - Kentucky Attorney General

www.ag.ky.gov

https://www.kybar.org/members/?id=32550636

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-steele-817153b9/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramsey-dallam-22a22a23a/

 

[vls12345]

It's Friday night. I wonder if MS has tendered his resignation?

 

[KonaHonu]

It's Friday night. I wonder if MS has tendered his resignation?

Why would he. That stops the paychecks and benefits for his family. I admit that I thought he would but I think I was wrong.

 

[Audrina]

What the hell happened here?? I do not have time currently, unfortunately, to read 36 pages. Can someone give me a synopsis?

 

[iamshadow21]

What the hell happened here?? I do not have time currently, unfortunately, to read 36 pages. Can someone give me a synopsis?

Sheriff and judge, small town of 1700 people, apparently good long term friends, had a private conversation in the judge's chambers, where the sheriff proceeded calmly to shoot the judge eight times before surrendering.

We have no idea why.

MOO

 

[acehard]

Why would he. That stops the paychecks and benefits for his family. I admit that I thought he would but I think I was wrong.

The removal process is pretty straight forward as it's not the first time a Sheriff needed to be removed. Typically people complain and then it's up to the Governor to take action which can take long. But if the Governor wants him out, it just takes scheduling a hearing and some paperwork. In the mean time, since he's not performing his duty, case law allows the court to hire a private security agency and guess who pays for it? IMO I don't see how not resigning helps him in this case

 

[NervousNellie]

So here is something I am wondering. The sheriff said he was planning to retire when his term ends in 2026. He will be about 46 years old. What was he going to live off of? Sure, after 20+ years as a sheriff he could have decent retirement savings. But most of that time was as a deputy making $40,000 per year. Even though they did not have a mortgage and his wife may work, it's hard to believe they had enough saved to retire. I realize that he may have just meant retiring from being a sheriff and had a post-LE career planned.

RBBM
You answered your own question. That seems most likely to me.

 

[Knox]

RBBM
You answered your own question. That seems most likely to me.

By all accounts, he was a well liked local official who seemed to be successful in his position. Do we know if he planned to retire before the mess with his deputy happened? Or was that a tipping point for him?

 

[Kudzuu]

No wonder the sheriff might be thinking he'll get off completely for a single murder charge. . . seriously, 6 MONTHS???? rape, sodomy, perjury and tampering with a prisoner monitoring device -- all those charges and 6 months in jail? That's outrageous -- IMO Plus, why wasn't "abuse of power" a charge? and probably tons of others I'd never think of. Good grief.

ET fix spelling

Just keep in mind that the judge and sheriff are the law in that county. I know I wouldn't want to be on a jury trying that case. That's my opinion only. This is a county with a very small population.

I agree with you. I was shocked by the sentence.

 

[Seattle1]

No wonder the sheriff might be thinking he'll get off completely for a single murder charge. . . seriously, 6 MONTHS???? rape, sodomy, perjury and tampering with a prisoner monitoring device -- all those charges and 6 months in jail? That's outrageous -- IMO Plus, why wasn't "abuse of power" a charge? and probably tons of others I'd never think of. Good grief.

ET fix spelling

The sentence was 7 years, but 6.5 years are being served under probation, and 6 months was served in jail. Violating terms of probation generally sends you to prison to do the full term.

Also, under Kentucky law, sex offenses are listed under approximately 17 potential criminal charges including rape 1st, 2nd, or 3rd degree. The degree of the rape charge is determined by the alleged victim's age, physical condition, or type of force used.

Here, the defendant was charged with 3rd degree rape, a Class D felony, and the sentence suggested by the Attorney General and imposed by the Court was on the high end (1 to 5 years) for Class D felony.

In return for the guilty plea, the prosecution will recommend Fields be sentenced to five years each for rape, and two tampering charges, but that time be probated for seven years with supervision for five years. The perjury sentence of 12 months would be conditionally discharged for 12 months. If the judge accepts the recommendations, Fields will serve six months in jail, and be required to register as a sex offender and complete outpatient sex offender treatment. Protective orders will be in place and effective for 10 years.

Section 510.060 - Rape in the third degree, Ky. Rev. Stat. § 510.060 | Casetext Search + Citator

Read Section 510.060 - Rape in the third degree, Ky. Rev. Stat. § 510.060, see flags on bad law, and search Casetext’s comprehensive legal database

casetext.com

Sentencing Set for Ex-Deputy

 

[Luna20]

Sheriff and judge, small town of 1700 people, apparently good long term friends, had a private conversation in the judge's chambers, where the sheriff proceeded calmly to shoot the judge eight times before surrendering.

We have no idea why.

MOO

Was he serving time or probation for the previous offences?

 

[KonaHonu]

The Commonwealth Attorney for Letcher County, Matt Butler, had only recently been appointed (in July) to replace Edison Banks. He is now running against Banks who seems to have changed his mind about retiring. Matt Butler for Commonwealth’s Attorney, 47th Circuit

https://www.kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=AttorneyGeneral&prId=1630

Butler was the judge's brother-in-law and is in charge of prosecuting felonies in the county. He has to be re-elected this year so he hit the ground running prosecuting some major cases. I'm wondering if something about those cases was personal to the sheriff.

There is some seriously bad blood between Butler and Banks. Stines' office arrested Banks's CNA for meth and fentanyl possession.

Butler appointed to replace Edison G. Banks II - The Mountain Eagle

Gov. Andy Beshear has appointed Matt Butler as the new 47th District Commonwealth’s Attorney, after Edison G. Banks II retired effective July 1. Butler is the Democratic candidate for the office and will fill the position at least until the election this November. Beshear made the appointment...

www.themountaineagle.com

 

[Occam's Zebra]

Three charges related to a second woman were dismissed because she is now dead.

So you can commit crimes against someone and if they die later on (I'm assuming her death is unrelated), you won't be charged? Seriously?

 

[sunshineray]

I wonder if the Sheriff found out he was being surveilled by the Feds with help from the judge? Can they set sombody's phone up to be a wire?

 

[MassGuy]

Garbage article. Basically they took the rumors we’ve all seen, then asked police if they were true, to which police gave the boilerplate answer that everything is on the table.

Cops probe lurid motive after judge is 'shot dead by sheriff'

Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines is accused of pumping eight bullets into his close friend after entering Judge Kevin Mullins's chambers at Letcher County Circuit Court in Kentucky.

www.dailymail.co.uk

-Cops are investigating a 'sex scandal' motive among other leads in the sensational death of judge Kevin Mullins who was allegedly murdered by the sheriff of his tiny Appalachian community, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.

Lurid sexual allegations about married district judge Mullins began circulating almost immediately among some folk in and around the small town of Whitesburg, where the killing happened on the afternoon of September 19

-Kentucky State Police, the lead agency in the investigation, confirmed to DailyMail.com that detectives were including the sex claims among many other lines of inquiry as a possible reason for the baffling killing.

Asked if the allegations were in the mix, Trooper Matt Gayheart said: 'Absolutely. We are not ruling out anything as a possible motive.

-'The whole thing will be investigated thoroughly. It's just going to take some time to make sure we can make the right determination. It could be weeks, it could be months.

'Our investigators seized the two cell phones and they're being analyzed.'

 

[bestill]

Garbage article. Basically they took the rumors we’ve all seen, then asked police if they were true, to which police gave the boilerplate answer that everything is on the table.

Cops probe lurid motive after judge is 'shot dead by sheriff'

Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines is accused of pumping eight bullets into his close friend after entering Judge Kevin Mullins's chambers at Letcher County Circuit Court in Kentucky.

www.dailymail.co.uk

-Cops are investigating a 'sex scandal' motive among other leads in the sensational death of judge Kevin Mullins who was allegedly murdered by the sheriff of his tiny Appalachian community, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.

Lurid sexual allegations about married district judge Mullins began circulating almost immediately among some folk in and around the small town of Whitesburg, where the killing happened on the afternoon of September 19

-Kentucky State Police, the lead agency in the investigation, confirmed to DailyMail.com that detectives were including the sex claims among many other lines of inquiry as a possible reason for the baffling killing.

Asked if the allegations were in the mix, Trooper Matt Gayheart said: 'Absolutely. We are not ruling out anything as a possible motive.

-'The whole thing will be investigated thoroughly. It's just going to take some time to make sure we can make the right determination. It could be weeks, it could be months.

'Our investigators seized the two cell phones and they're being analyzed.'

I did wonder why the DM wasn't reporting the "allegations". jmo

 

[Seattle1]

So you can commit crimes against someone and if they die later on (I'm assuming her death is unrelated), you won't be charged? Seriously?

Charges are dropped-- as it has always been pursuant to the US Constitution, Sixth Amendment, which guarantees a defendant's right to face their accuser in criminal court, confront and cross examine witnesses against them. However, take note this does not apply to civil actions where the estate of the victim replaced the decedent in the civil suit filed against the perpetrator.

 

[Seattle1]

I did wonder why the DM wasn't reporting the "allegations". jmo

Probably because there are so many and none that can be verified!

 

[Knox]

So you can commit crimes against someone and if they die later on (I'm assuming her death is unrelated), you won't be charged? Seriously?

He has a constitutional right to face his accuser in court.