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

[sunshineray]

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

If the victim went and reported it immeadiately, rape kit done, statements/interviews done, then she dies. Is it not the State's obligation to still prosecute? I'm not saying that's the situation, we don't know, but was he prosecuted for her rape before she passed?

 

[Ontario Mom]

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.

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

Honestly, it would take all of 15 seconds to look at both phones and figure out exactly how and why whatever it was on both of them, seemed central to what Stines did.

jmo

 

[MassGuy]

Honestly, it would take all of 15 seconds to look at both phones and figure out exactly how and why whatever it was on both of them, seemed central to what Stines did.

jmo

Oh for sure. The judge’s phone would have been open to whatever he was looking at. So they’d know that, and if it jibes with whatever Stines has claimed.

 

[al66pine]

Private Security Agency?

.... 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

snipped for focus @acehard

From a quick search, I did not find anything that case or statute that seemed was relevant re court hiring a private security agency or who would pay for it. Could have missed it.

I'd appreciate a link to the court opinion or news stories.
@acehard ? Anyone?

 

[Born2BWild]

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.'

Totally agree with you on “garbage article” by DM.

Since that rumor is now acknowledged via the DMail, I’m hoping it’s okay to mention that a account has been created by a sister-in-law of the Sheriff’s wife, making the wife and daughter of the Sheriff the beneficiaries.

In her statement she assures donors the money is strictly for the wife and daughter’s living expenses (not for legal expenses) and that there is no truth to those rumors regarding- any abuse. I don’t want to repeat the rumors, though she does, out of respect to the Judge.

 

[sunshineray]

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.'

Two interesting bits to me.

The Sheriff was acting "erratically" since Labor Day, "He was quieter than usual and had stopped regular communications with the community and the press" accorded to the local newspaper The Mountain Eagle.'

The other was:

"Stines admitted to the paper that he was having 'some issues' and revealed he shed 40lbs from his hulking 300lb frame in just two weeks."

So wondering what caused the Sheriff to stop communicating with the community (the article did mention the Sheriff deleting the Office's Facebook page because of comments it was getting and a court case he was involved in being possibly affected) and the local press, all while losing 40 lbs off his 300 lb frame, in just two weeks.

It seems the man was very stressed with "issues"and acting "eradically" well before this past Thursday. Sounds like the murder may have been a built-up not a spur of the moment action. AJMO

 

[KonaHonu]

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

I agree it is kind of a garbage article. But two things I find interesting are that there were initially 2 shots and the judge was known to carry a gun. Could the judge have shot first and missed? Cops are trained to empty their magazine if they shoot so I have never considered the 8 shots to be anything but normal. A cop would not fire 2 and then 6 more.

 

[RANCH]

I agree it is kind of a garbage article. But two things I find interesting are that there were initially 2 shots and the judge was known to carry a gun. Could the judge have shot first and missed? Cops are trained to empty their magazine if they shoot so I have never considered the 8 shots to be anything but normal. A cop would not fire 2 and then 6 more.

Where does the statement that "Cops are trained to empty their magazine if they shoot" come from? I've never heard of that before.

I've only heard about training for "stopping the threat" when police shoot a suspect. That doesn't mean they don't often fire many rounds including emptying their magazine, I just don't think they are trained to do that in every circumstance.

Officers use deadly force on a suspect they perceive to be an imminent threat of death or bodily harm to the officers or others. In training, police are told to use force until that person no longer presents a threat, Stoughton said.

The number of shots it takes to “terminate a threat” depends on the circumstances.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/26/us/why-police-shoot-so-many-rounds-trnd/index.html

 

[MassGuy]

I agree it is kind of a garbage article. But two things I find interesting are that there were initially 2 shots and the judge was known to carry a gun. Could the judge have shot first and missed? Cops are trained to empty their magazine if they shoot so I have never considered the 8 shots to be anything but normal. A cop would not fire 2 and then 6 more.

I think we’d know. We’ve heard the account as to how this went down, thanks to apparent surveillance footage that captured it. It appears he fired, walked up to him, and gave the coup de grace when he was already down (remaining shots at point blank). That explains the delay.

The training isn’t to empty one’s magazine, it’s to fire until the threat is neutralized. This looks like a cold blooded execution to me, based on the way those shots occurred, quick first degree murder charges, and nothing in the account that provides for some sort self defense scenario.

This guy apparently looked at the judge’s phone again after it was done, which is further evidence of calculation.

 

[Seattle1]

If the victim went and reported it immeadiately, rape kit done, statements/interviews done, then she dies. Is it not the State's obligation to still prosecute? I'm not saying that's the situation, we don't know, but was he prosecuted for her rape before she passed?

The victim died before the trial so the criminal charges previously filed against the defendant related to this victim were dropped. Again, this is a matter of law where it be a violation of a defendant's constitutional right (i.e., Sixth Amendment) which guarantees the right to face and question your accuser in Court.

 

[Rosydecember]

The victim died before the trial so the criminal charges previously filed against the defendant related to this victim were dropped. Again, this is a matter of law where it be a violation of a defendant's constitutional right (i.e., Sixth Amendment) which guarantees the right to face and question your accuser in Court.

I mean…. John Doe shoots and kills Jane Doe. Jane is dead, but criminal proceedings continue without Jane, and thank god, because then all killers would never be charged since they can’t face the accuser in court…. I know it’s extreme but trying to prove a point. Moo

 

[Seattle1]

Private Security Agency?

snipped for focus @acehard

From a quick search, I did not find anything that case or statute that seemed was relevant re court hiring a private security agency or who would pay for it. Could have missed it.

I'd appreciate a link to the court opinion or news stories.
@acehard ? Anyone?

I don't believe OP's case law reference is not applicable here. We learned early last week that the Chief Deputy of Letcher County Sheriff's Office had been appointed as the acting Sheriff, and although their office was closed until Oct 1, they were still responding to calls, etc., along with the Letcher Police Department. MOO

 

[sunshineray]

The victim died before the trial so the criminal charges previously filed against the defendant related to this victim were dropped. Again, this is a matter of law where it be a violation of a defendant's constitutional right (i.e., Sixth Amendment) which guarantees the right to face and question your accuser in Court.

What's the difference when someone is attacked (raped) and dies? Isn't the perpetrator prosecuted for both? Or they can't be prosecuted for the rape, because the victim died? To me, it would seem the physical evidence should speak for itself in court. I'm not being argumentative, just wondering if you know?

 

[Audrina]

What's the difference when someone is attacked (raped) and dies? Isn't the perpetrator prosecuted for both? Or they can't be prosecuted for the rape, because the victim died? To me, it would seem the physical evidence should speak for itself in court. I'm not being argumentative, just wondering if you know?

Agree. Very confusing to me. Or are can they only be charged with rape if they rape & murdered said deceased victim.

 

[Kudzuu]

What's the difference when someone is attacked (raped) and dies? Isn't the perpetrator prosecuted for both? Or they can't be prosecuted for the rape, because the victim died? To me, it would seem the physical evidence should speak for itself in court. I'm not being argumentative, just wondering if you know?

Maybe the victim died of something unrelated to the crime?

MOO that's all I can think of but I'm just guessing. Rapists get off pretty easy if you ask me. The toll on the victim is worse than not reporting it. IMPO.

 

[sunshineray]

I mean…. John Doe shoots and kills Jane Doe. Jane is dead, but criminal proceedings continue without Jane, and thank god, because then all killers would never be charged since they can’t face the accuser in court…. I know it’s extreme but trying to prove a point. Moo

Yes and what I was wondering is with all the forensics, tests and photos, why is rape different than say someone beating the heck out of someone but the victim doesn't make it to trial. Would that person walk away with no charges?

 

[Seattle1]

I mean…. John Doe shoots and kills Jane Doe. Jane is dead, but criminal proceedings continue without Jane, and thank god, because then all killers would never be charged since they can’t face the accuser in court…. I know it’s extreme but trying to prove a point. Moo

I agree it's extreme and an invalid interpretation of the Sixth Amendment. First, when you murder and/or eliminate the witness, you forfeit your right to confront your accuser. Second, there's no comparing murdering your accuser to 3rd degree rape allegation, a Class D felony, where the victim later causes their own death before the defendant's trial. MOO.

 

[sunshineray]

I agree it's extreme and an invalid interpretation of the Sixth Amendment. First, when you murder and/or eliminate the witness, you forfeit your right to confront your accuser. Second, there's no comparing murdering your accuser to 3rd degree rape allegation, a Class D felony, where the victim later causes their own death before the defendant's trial. MOO.

Yeah degrees of rape I don't get. Thanks for your input

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

What's the difference when someone is attacked (raped) and dies? Isn't the perpetrator prosecuted for both? Or they can't be prosecuted for the rape, because the victim died? To me, it would seem the physical evidence should speak for itself in court. I'm not being argumentative, just wondering if you know?

MOO, but I believe that if there's enough evidence that someone was raped, you probably could prosecute even if the victim is dead. I think with crimes like rape, you run into trouble because unless it's reported right away, it's usually he said/she said. If the victim is dead, there is no "she said" so unless there's DNA evidence or a rape kit, unlikely you get a conviction. That's not the same for murder. In murder, you can place the perp at the scene where someone was killed. You'll have an autopsy or some evidence that a homicide occurred. With a rape, you can place an individual at the victim's home or office, but you can't prove they had sex or that they had non-consensual sex (without a rape kit) unless the victim is alive to testify.

I don't actually think it's about facing the accuser so much as it is above the type of crime and likely lack of evidence. MOO

 

[Rosydecember]

in cook county, the cops/courts/whoever got annoyed about the lack of charges being pressed for domestic violence, and they can pursue domestic violence charges without the victim wanting to pursue…