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

[Rosiebones]

This is a source and description of Kentucky's Involuntary mental health treatment. What little we know could fit into this theory.The final act certainly does. MOO MOO MOO MOO

Involuntary Mental Health Treatment – McCracken County KY

mccrackencountyky.gov

 

[Seattle1]

Idk why but I think the judges chamber’s being used by BF for the sexual assaults may have been known to the judge.
I’m still confused as to why stines had charges brought against him for what his minion did. Do all bosses of ppl charged with crime get charges too. Weird

Jmo

^^bbm

In a matter of law, yes. Stines named in the civil lawsuit was just a place holder for the County-- the real target of the (pocket$$) lawsuit. MOO

 

[SluethinAway]

this is what I found most interseting in the linked article:

During the arraignment Monday, Bartley said his client has "a compelling defense." A deposition Stines gave in a separate federal lawsuit days prior to the September shooting is a part of that, according to Bartley.
[snip]
"I do believe that that is a piece," Bartley said. "This is a large story. It's a story that, in some ways, is difficult to tell. We look forward to sharing a more complete version of that as we go through this judicial process."
MSN

not a phone call? The deposition in the civil case his client gave is part of his compelling defense? MOO THIS is the steaming hot tea I am waiting for. JMO the sheriff's daughter is a red herring in this.

What I found interesting was that he said:

Earlier deposition may play role in defense for sheriff in judge shooting, lawyer says

More than two months after the fatal shooting of Letcher County Judge Kevin Mullins, ex-Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines was back in court Monday.

www.courier-journal.com

Bartley said the timing of the deposition is "certainly something that's going to be crucial in this case."


The timing of the deposition. (It was Monday and lasted several hours)
Was there something else that happened at that time? When someone knew where he would be and for how long or is he pleading insanity and the timing amongst the timing of other things culminated in a break down?

 

[Ontario Mom]

What I found interesting was that he said:

Earlier deposition may play role in defense for sheriff in judge shooting, lawyer says

More than two months after the fatal shooting of Letcher County Judge Kevin Mullins, ex-Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines was back in court Monday.

www.courier-journal.com

Bartley said the timing of the deposition is "certainly something that's going to be crucial in this case."


The timing of the deposition. (It was Monday and lasted several hours)
Was there something else that happened at that time? When someone knew where he would be and for how long or is he pleading insanity and the timing amongst the timing of other things culminated in a break down?

As far as I know, it hasn't been reported anywhere that he's pleading insanity.
To me, Bartley's comments are just pieces of a 100 piece puzzle, and the public only has around 10 pieces at best.

jmo

 

[Elley Mae]

The judge and sheriff denied any knowledge of the crimes to which the now-former deputy pleaded guilty. It’s unclear if the case is connected to the shooting.

The plaintiff and her two attorneys said Stines appeared agitated during the hours-long deposition and frequently asked for breaks. At one point, Stines was asked whether he had authorized his deputy to use public equipment to manage the ankle monitors.

“I don’t recall,” said Stines. “ I am having an episode. Sorry.”

Stines took another break, one of 10, according to the deposition.

Why was a Kentucky judge killed? So far, it remains a mystery

The one-of-a-kind killing of a Kentucky judge, allegedly by the local sheriff, has shaken tight-knit Letcher County, leaving people baffled and unnerved as police try to figure out a motive.

www.wuky.org

The following day, Stines, who usually returned press calls promptly, took many hours to get back to a reporter about a fatal accident, according to The Mountain Eagle, Letcher’s weekly newspaper. Editor Ben Gish said Stines told his employees not to answer any questions about anything while he was away from the office. Gish said this was out of character for Stines, who was normally friendly to the press.

“I just thought that something had to be bad wrong if the sheriff’s office wasn’t releasing information that was that simple,” Gish said.

…

3 days before killing deposition.
2 days before tells staff not to talk to journalists.

 

[Seattle1]

Jeremy Bartley's client murdered an unarmed Judge on video for all to see. He's facing the death penalty. Clearly, he's employing the spaghetti defense-- all at the wall for whatever might stick! Whether it be what Stines had for breakfast, the civil deposition, the cell phones, call history, his wife, daughter, etc., -- nobody or nothing is going to be spared. Here, it could mean the difference between life or death.

In a recent podcast, Bartley's 'bounce around defense strategy' comes off as exploitation at best. While they appear to have backed off on suggesting an illicit relationship between Mullins and the daughter, it was not before the message sent (County wide) and the damage already done. JMO

When I’m successful in these arguments, the main victory is that my client would no longer be eligible for the death penalty. Often, it’s not whether my client walks free, but rather the type of sentence that is ultimately imposed. KY Murder vs Manslaughter

 

[Auntie Cipation]

What I found interesting was that he said:

Earlier deposition may play role in defense for sheriff in judge shooting, lawyer says

More than two months after the fatal shooting of Letcher County Judge Kevin Mullins, ex-Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines was back in court Monday.

www.courier-journal.com

Bartley said the timing of the deposition is "certainly something that's going to be crucial in this case."


The timing of the deposition. (It was Monday and lasted several hours)
Was there something else that happened at that time? When someone knew where he would be and for how long or is he pleading insanity and the timing amongst the timing of other things culminated in a break down?

If it's the TIMING rather than the substance of the deposition that is "crucial to the case", that makes me wonder what the judge was doing during that time, and also what Stines' wife and daughter were doing during that time.

Perhaps that timeframe is when whatever-it-was (judge meeting with or advising Stines' family members?) happened that Stines, upon learning about it, felt so threatened by that he felt he must kill the judge? MOO

 

[OldAce]

The reports of his more quiet, withdrawn behavior, rapid and large weight loss. The increase of significant stressors in his life like the deposition. We have no reports of his home life, or relationships, it is possible his behavior was much more difficult at home and they were seeking help for him which he was resisting. His daughter and wife did attend his court appearances so it appears that they care about him and want to support him.MOO MOO MOO MOO

Well, consider. If he was carrying the burden of knowledge concerning the judge; that was serious enough to warrant killing him, he might not have been same dad/husband as before. Ever had work/office of business concerns that made you a little short with others in the house?
This is a media report that is just more open and assignable than some of the rumors murmured previously.
Lets toddle along gaining truth as it shakes out. Still will be stranger than the fiction surrounding this case.

 

[LadyL]

this is what I found most interseting in the linked article:

During the arraignment Monday, Bartley said his client has "a compelling defense." A deposition Stines gave in a separate federal lawsuit days prior to the September shooting is a part of that, according to Bartley.
[snip]
"I do believe that that is a piece," Bartley said. "This is a large story. It's a story that, in some ways, is difficult to tell. We look forward to sharing a more complete version of that as we go through this judicial process."
MSN

not a phone call? The deposition in the civil case his client gave is part of his compelling defense? MOO THIS is the steaming hot tea I am waiting for. JMO the sheriff's daughter is a red herring in this.

oh wow finally someone has publicly acknowledged that may be a factor

 

[LadyL]

So, this is new info.

- Stines was kicked out of his house by his wife, the night before the shooting.
- He tried to go see his daughter before going to the courthouse, she didn't want to see him.
- When he called her from the judge's phone, she DID answer.

oh wow

 

[MrsWatson]

This is all very interesting information.

I have a feeling this is going to be a very tangled web that has very few sympathetic victims.

MOO for now. Who knows where else this will go?

 

[Friday Fan]

Well, consider. If he was carrying the burden of knowledge concerning the judge; that was serious enough to warrant killing him, he might not have been same dad/husband as before. Ever had work/office of business concerns that made you a little short with others in the house?
This is a media report that is just more open and assignable than some of the rumors murmured previously.
Lets toddle along gaining truth as it shakes out. Still will be stranger than the fiction surrounding this case.

And what would that knowledge be? What would the judge be doing that warrants killing him?

 

[Seattle1]

If it's the TIMING rather than the substance of the deposition that is "crucial to the case", that makes me wonder what the judge was doing during that time, and also what Stines' wife and daughter were doing during that time.

Perhaps that timeframe is when whatever-it-was (judge meeting with or advising Stines' family members?) happened that Stines, upon learning about it, felt so threatened by that he felt he must kill the judge? MOO

Suits against the Sheriff are just part of the job description... The pending civil lawsuit at the time of Mullins murder was truly a gift for Stines defense. Something to cling to until the commonwealth unravels the facts that will include that the suit was ongoing since January 2022, and not a surprise whatsoever to Stines.

To be clear, the deposition had in-fact already been scheduled and canceled numerous times before Sept 2024 but canceled for the convenience of the plaintiff. Listening to Bartley spin the civil lawsuit today as part of the defense has to be extremely painful for the victim, Judge Mullins family and friends. IMO, the only connection is the coincidence that Fields had access to Mullins Chambers. MOO

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

Sep 25, 2024

I can’t believe we haven’t had any leaks or official information yet, as you’d think he’d have a lawyer who would be trying to get ahead of this.

Curiouser and curiouser....

Marital, family problems?

Lawsuits are just part of the job, and case law proves suing the Sheriff in the official capacity of being Sheriff, just means suing the County Government. And he did have a lawyer on this matter since January 2022, and had been scheduled numerous times for deposition by the Plaintiff only to be repeatedly canceled.

Stines had also been sued in March 2019 --...

• Seattle1

• 

 

[Auntie Cipation]

@Seattle1 I don't disagree with you. I think the content of the deposition is most likely irrelevant. What I was focused on was the statement that the TIMING of the deposition was relevant -- as in, while Stines was tied up with the deposition that day, other parties took advantage of his not being around -- to meet, perhaps, or connect online. For what reason we don't yet know, could be one of many things speculated here. MOO

 

[Tricia]

Hey Everyone.
We are discussing the latest in the murder of Judge Mullins. We go live at 10:30 PM Eastern.

 

[Tricia]

Here is the News Nation report with the reporter who stated there was a problem at home with the Sheriff.

 

[Seattle1]

Vinnie Politan Investigates | Could Ex-Sheriff Stines Face Death Penalty?​

11/26/24

00:00 VPI: Shawn Stines + Kevin Mullins
03:49 What is the Defense going to be?
15:22 Why does the Defense want this in Letcher County?
25:06 Does the former sheriff's family have a connection to what happened?
35:26 Will this be a death penalty case?
#CourtTV - What do YOU think?
___________
ETA:

Panel doesn't think the prosecution will seek DP -- Stines is too popular, doesn't fit profile and lacks criminal history. Stines was twice elected Sheriff by a large margin of the voting County residents (i.e., the jury pool).

Same for why the defense wants his trial held in Letcher County.

More important-- the attorney for the plaintiffs in the Civil lawsuit does not see any connection to the civil lawsuit and/or deposition and the murder of Mullins by Stines.

 

[Seattle1]

Noting Appellate Opinion (i.e., as a Matter of Law)...

As to the claims against Stines in his official capacity as the Letcher County sheriff, these claims are treated as claims against the county. Official-capacity suits are simply "another way of pleading an action against an entity of which an officer is an agent." Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 166 (1985). In her complaint, Congleton does not mention any unconstitutional county custom or policy, which is necessary for municipal liability under § 1983. Monell v. Department of Social Services, 436 U.S. 658, 690-91 (1978); Fox v. Van Oosterum, 176 F.3d 342, 348 (6th Cir. 1999). Congleton does not address the official-capacity claim at all in her response to Stines' motion for summary judgment. Thus, this claim must be dismissed as a matter of law.

Congleton v. Stines, CIVIL ACTION NO. 7:19-20-KKC, 12 (E.D. Ky. Jun. 11, 2020)

Congleton v. Stines, CIVIL ACTION NO. 7:19-20-KKC | Casetext Search + Citator

Read Congleton v. Stines, CIVIL ACTION NO. 7:19-20-KKC, see flags on bad law, and search Casetext’s comprehensive legal database

casetext.com

 

[Seattle1]

Well, consider. If he was carrying the burden of knowledge concerning the judge; that was serious enough to warrant killing him, he might not have been same dad/husband as before. Ever had work/office of business concerns that made you a little short with others in the house?
This is a media report that is just more open and assignable than some of the rumors murmured previously.
Lets toddle along gaining truth as it shakes out. Still will be stranger than the fiction surrounding this case.

I'm reminded of Yellowstone, episode 11 and a convo between Lloyd and Rip:

L: "We getting in this fight?"

R: "If we can figure out who to fight and how to fight."

R: "Going to prison for the rest of our lives doesn’t solve anything."

IMO, elected officials such as Sheriff Stines should be held to a higher standard. Going rogue because you had a bad day, or argued with your spouse, doesn't cut it! No excuse. JMO.

 

[Ontario Mom]

IMO, elected officials such as Sheriff Stines should be held to a higher standard. Going rogue because you had a bad day, or argued with your spouse, doesn't cut it! No excuse. JMO.

RSBM

At this point, none of us have any idea why Stines did what he did, although I highly suspect it had nothing to do with having a bad day or an argument with his wife.

jmo