Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024 # 3

[fsngruv]

We have learned, somewhere upthread, that Stines had been kicked out of his home the night before, by his wife. Do I have that right?

If that is correct, perhaps his coworkers and deputies knew about it? That could be part of what prompted the repeated "does this have to do with your family" questions, if in fact Stines' comment about kidnap didn't occur until later at the Leslie Sheriff's Office. MOO

Great memory and catch! I think you are right on track!

 

[NervousNellie]

either they knew about the phone calls from Stines phone followed by one from Mullins phone, or he had already made that statement about abduction while still at the courthouse immediately after the shooting and we weren't given that footage for whatever reason.

RBBM

Per @Allabouttrial 's awesome transcript of the initial(?) court proceedings, that is exactly what happened (he made the statement prior to the bodycam footage we have seen).

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

Snippet from nearer to the end of the interview:

DEFENSE - Did he also make a statement about... I didn't see it in the citation, somewhere along the lines of a statement being true to him about protecting his family?

DETECTIVE - He was.. I wasn't present, but when he.. when he was taken into custody, I was told by one of the other officers that were there, that he made a comment 'they're trying to kidnap my wife and kid'.

DEFENSE - Have you ascertained any evidence that this shooting was pre-planned?

DETECTIVE - No, not at this time.

 

[tlcya]

what we are unsure of is if that "taken into custody" refers to initially at the courthouse or into custody by Lesley county after transport there. He was taken into custody by several agencies.

and if that statement was made at the courthouse immediately after then why did we not see the body cam footage of that officer/deputy it was made to?

 

[NervousNellie]

what we are unsure of is if that "taken into custody" refers to initially at the courthouse or into custody by Lesley county after transport there. He was taken into custody by several agencies.

and if that statement was made at the courthouse immediately after then why did we not see the body cam footage of that officer/deputy it was made to?

You're right; I'm merely assuming it means the moment he was physically taken into custody. We don't know (and may never!)

 

[Knox]

You're right; I'm merely assuming it means the moment he was physically taken into custody. We don't know (and may never!)

We didn't see all the footage of Stines being "taken into custody" at the courthouse did we? IIRC, we didn't see anything from inside the courthouse proper where he was cuffed. The video starts when he is in the garage area being placed into the transport vehicle.

If you think about it, would make sense that he made the comment to a deputy at some point prior to the video we were shown. That's why the trooper repeatedly asks the question on the way to the jail. Whoever Stines said that to, reported it back to other LEO at the scene.

 

[Considering]

Status hearing today:

Former Letcher Co. Sheriff Mickey Stines appears before judge in status hearing

Former Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines, charged with the murder of District Judge Kevin Mullins in September, appeared before a judge Friday morning for a status hearing.

www.lex18.com

Full hearing can be observed at this link:

 

[Seattle1]

From the YT Status hearing linked above:

Competency and Criminal Responsibility Evaluations are being ordered for the defendant -- the Court wants to get this request in the pipeline.

Stines is also declaring he's indigent but requested this motion be conducted in camera (private).

Defense brought up the issue of bond but the Court advised a bond hearing will be heard in person. No date was set. MOO

 

[Seattle1]

Former sheriff appears in court for status hearing

Mickey Stines was charged with murder following a shooting at the Letcher County Courthouse.

www.wymt.com

1/17/25

Circuit Court Judge Christopher Cohron, prosecutors and defense attorneys discussed several details in the case.

[..]

An affidavit of indigency, which is a document showing a person cannot cover court costs, was also filed on Stines’s behalf.

That process could then open the door to Chapter 31 funds. These are given if the defendant cannot afford an attorney. It can also be used to fund private investigators of expert witness.

 

[Seattle1]

Mental evaluation discussed at hearing for former Letcher County sheriff accused of murdering judge

The former Letcher County sheriff accused of murdering District Judge Kevin Mullins in September was in court for a status hearing Friday. Defense attorney Jeremy Bartley asked special Judge Christopher Cohron to allow their expert witness to conduct a criminal responsibility evaluation of...

www.weku.org

1/17/25

 

[Seattle1]

Status Hearing for Former Sheriff Shawn Stines Who Shot, Killed Judge

Shawn 'Mickey' Stines attends a status hearing where the judge proposed an evaluation regarding competence and criminal responsibility.

www.courttv.com

1/17/25

 

[vls12345]

Status hearing today:

Former Letcher Co. Sheriff Mickey Stines appears before judge in status hearing

Former Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines, charged with the murder of District Judge Kevin Mullins in September, appeared before a judge Friday morning for a status hearing.

www.lex18.com

Full hearing can be observed at this link:

Is it usual for lawyers to sit with their client, who is accused of murder, with no apparent handcuffs, possibly no security in the room (which looks small/narrow), & with their backs to him? While they may trust him, it seems unsafe to me. Are there protocols around that? And, would that apparent trust factor into any competency evaluation?

 

[jepop]

Is it usual for lawyers to sit with their client, who is accused of murder, with no apparent handcuffs, possibly no security in the room (which looks small/narrow), & with their backs to him? While they may trust him, it seems unsafe to me. Are there protocols around that? And, would that apparent trust factor into any competency evaluation?

Yeah, agree. He's a frightening looking individual, a big and seemingly strong guy who apparently had no qualms shooting someone in cold blood, with the third ( or fouth,?) bullet dispatched as his victim cowered beneath a desk, just to be sure.

And right, they're discussing his potential competency and sanity (state of mind) whilst he sits behind them emotionless with blank eyes. My subjective view of course, but there is no guarantee Sheriff Stines is stable. It would be wise to drop assumptions he will necessarily behave 'normally' or in a predictable fashion during hearings. Better to be cautious and have security in place just in case. Perhaps there is security and we just can't see it? Is there a guard out of camera shot?

 

[Rosiebones]

Is it usual for lawyers to sit with their client, who is accused of murder, with no apparent handcuffs, possibly no security in the room (which looks small/narrow), & with their backs to him? While they may trust him, it seems unsafe to me. Are there protocols around that? And, would that apparent trust factor into any competency evaluation?

I would also ask why his attorneys would want to present him in that fashion, as calm, competent and safe to be around if they want to put on a defense of diminished capacity etc. Also, why wouldn't those evaluations have been ordered much earlier like late September, closer to the crime when he was more upset and out of control? MOO MOO MOO

 

[Ontario Mom]

Is it usual for lawyers to sit with their client, who is accused of murder, with no apparent handcuffs, possibly no security in the room (which looks small/narrow), & with their backs to him? While they may trust him, it seems unsafe to me. Are there protocols around that? And, would that apparent trust factor into any competency evaluation?

I'm not sure if it's usual, but considering both of them know this man better than any of us do (and they also know why he did what he did), it says a lot to me that they both felt comfortable enough to do that.

jmo

 

[Leilei]

Evidence bombshell for Kentucky sheriff 'who shot judge in chambers'

The defense team representing a Kentucky sheriff who allegedly shot a judge in his chambers last year has made a shocking admission.

www.dailymail.co.uk

1/17/25

Prosecutors may take another four to six months to amass all potential evidence and complete any testing of it, according to prosecutor Jackie Steele.

'We still have some things coming in and things being tested,' Steele said.

Stines, who appeared remotely from jail for Friday's video conference, showed no emotion as he sat behind his lawyers while his upcoming murder trial was discussed.

What possible evidence could excuse the cold-blooded murder that we've all seen?
I know, I know... that's the defenses job, but come on. As Sheriff, Stines knew the proper, legal way to deal with any issues he had with Mullins. Instead, he took matters into his own hands. He made that decision.
Unless they have some medical/psychological evidence that Stines was somehow impaired, and couldn't control himself, I don't see anything moving the needle from first degree murder, for me at least.
IMO.

 

[Ontario Mom]

What possible evidence could excuse the cold-blooded murder that we've all seen?
I know, I know... that's the defenses job, but come on. As Sheriff, Stines knew the proper, legal way to deal with any issues he had with Mullins. Instead, he took matters into his own hands. He made that decision.
Unless they have some medical/psychological evidence that Stines was somehow impaired, and couldn't control himself, I don't see anything moving the needle from first degree murder, for me at least.
IMO.

For me personally, there's really only 1 "issue" (that would be SA - of any age, but even moreso if the vic is a minor) that I could 100% justify the emotions behind such an action. Could I still justify the actual crime? I don't think I could since the law is the law, but I could certainly understand the motives for it. Which I suppose would fall into the category of the perp acting under extreme emotional stress, such as in this case. If Stines' motive is anything other than something profoundly grievous such as that, it's going to be a tough sell for me as well.

jmo

 

[vls12345]

I'm not sure if it's usual, but considering both of them know this man better than any of us do (and they also know why he did what he did), it says a lot to me that they both felt comfortable enough to do that.

jmo

Judge Mullins once considered him a trusted co-worker & friend too. We all know how that turned out. Since the sheriff metes out vigilante justice as captured on video, I wouldn't trust him, even if I thought he would never turn on me. It feels like a cavalier attitude on the part of his lawyers, imo.

 

[Dotta]

This tragedy is connected to small town secrets IMO.
As Sir David Lynch has passed away (RIP)
I suddenly remember "Twin Peaks"
where the reality was more complex and terrifying than we - the public - could have imagined.

Or is my imagination running wild...again?

JMO

 

[Ontario Mom]

Judge Mullins once considered him a trusted co-worker & friend too. We all know how that turned out. Since the sheriff metes out vigilante justice as captured on video, I wouldn't trust him, even if I thought he would never turn on me. It feels like a cavalier attitude on the part of his lawyers, imo.

I can understand this statement.
Although I have to reiterate, we don't know what they know.
I think that makes a world of difference in their comfort/trust level with him.

jmo

 

[Leilei]

For me personally, there's really only 1 "issue" (that would be SA - of any age, but even moreso if the vic is a minor) that I could 100% justify the emotions behind such an action. Could I still justify the actual crime? I don't think I could since the law is the law, but I could certainly understand the motives for it. Which I suppose would fall into the category of the perp acting under extreme emotional stress, such as in this case. If Stines' motive is anything other than something profoundly grievous such as that, it's going to be a tough sell for me as well.

jmo

I think I understand what you're saying as far as the emotional stress due to maybe a SA "issue". But, what if that "issue" did not happen? Stines own words after the murder said nothing about SA, as reported in the media and even on the bodycam video. The only thing reported was that he thought his family was being taken away or something to that effect (I can't remember exactly what was said). Why would he claim that his family was being taken away as his possible excuse instead of saying that his loved one had been SA'd?
I hope that I'm making sense.
I wish that the video had audio, but I don't think Stines said a word during the murder.
IMO.