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

[Chimera]

Motion to Dismiss Murder-1 indictment where the murder was captured live on video? Really?

I doubt Detective Stamper has jurisdiction over the Federal Civil Case to answer questions to a State Grand Jury.

Relative to not recording the 10 minutes of the proceeding -- sounds like a technicality most likely for HIPAA compliance and protection of Stines privacy.

Good try by Mr. Bartley... might as well throw all he's got to work with at the wall. JMO

Looking forward to the State's response. I'm not a fan of GJ indictments...

Bbm.
Agreed 100 %, really ???
Un-freaking-believable.
My goodness.
If ever there was a clear, slam-dunk case for first degree, premeditated (imo) murder.
Omo.

 

[Chimera]

I hope I am wrong.

But mountain folks like to take care of their own business. And the old school people have a healthy distrust of LE outside of local jurisdiction.

What would it take for a mountain man to kill another man in cold blood? Something very personal and a betrayal.

Stines shot the judge like he'd kill a dog to put it out of its misery. Shoot until it quits moving.

All my opinion.

Haven't you watched Justified?

In the universe of the hollers of Eastern Kentucky.

Moo.

Rbm.
Bbm.

Red bolded : That right there (Imo !) is spot on.
Hmmm.
Esp. the betrayal part.
A long-simmering rage or a terrible (to Stine's mind, anyway) revelation ?
Something Stine's wanted covered up forever ?

Black bolded : Unfortunately no I haven't. Maybe I should ?

Only my opinion.

 

[Kudzuu]

@Chimera

Well it is part truth but mostly fiction. Colorful characters, murders, evangelism, lots of guns, fried chicken, feuds and hillbilly culture.
It came out over a decade ago. Filmed mostly in California IIRC but it can pass for Kentucky.
Raylan, a US Marshall returns home to Kentucky.

 

[jepop]

If there is something much bigger at play and the sheriff is already screwed, we may seem him spill the beans in open court. This may have been his goal all along as OldAce has suggested (if I understand, I don't want to misrepresent his opinions.) But I would not be surprised if he does not live to testify unfortunately.

I think that if there is "something much bigger at play", then the possibility that this is only so in Stine's own mind is as likely as any other speculation posted here at present. JMO.

 

[sds71]

'Don't kill me': Sheriff Stines appears paranoid in video after judge's murder

Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines appears paranoid in bodyworn camera video following the deadly shooting, repeatedly asking not to be hurt.

www.courttv.com

Ex-sheriff’s lawyer says he never made the claim about lies in deposition - The Mountain Eagle

A criminal defense attorney for former sheriff Mickey Stines has filed an affidavit in a civil case that he never said his client lied in a deposition that occurred three days before Stines shot and killed District Judge Kevin R. Mullins. Bethany Baxter, a lawyer for Sabrina Adkins, who is suing...

www.themountaineagle.com

 

[Seattle1]

Ex-sheriff accused of shooting judge in chambers says state skirted law, should toss murder case: report

Attorneys for Mickey Stines say the state of Kentucky botched grand jury proceedings against their client, who is accused of killing District Judge Kevin Mullins, according to a report.

www.yahoo.com

6/6/25

"On the day that this [shooting] happened, my client had attempted multiple times to contact his wife and daughter, and he firmly believed that they were in danger," Bartley said. "He believed that they were in danger because of what he knew to have happened within the courthouse. And there was pressure, and there were threats made to him to sort of keep him in line, to keep them from saying more than these folks wanted him to say."

"I think one of the big things is that my client felt there had been pressure placed on him not to say too much during the deposition, and not to talk about things that happened within the courthouse, particularly in the judge's chambers," Bartley said.

 

[tlcya]

Ex-sheriff accused of shooting judge in chambers says state skirted law, should toss murder case: report

Attorneys for Mickey Stines say the state of Kentucky botched grand jury proceedings against their client, who is accused of killing District Judge Kevin Mullins, according to a report.

www.yahoo.com

6/6/25

"On the day that this [shooting] happened, my client had attempted multiple times to contact his wife and daughter, and he firmly believed that they were in danger," Bartley said. "He believed that they were in danger because of what he knew to have happened within the courthouse. And there was pressure, and there were threats made to him to sort of keep him in line, to keep them from saying more than these folks wanted him to say."

"I think one of the big things is that my client felt there had been pressure placed on him not to say too much during the deposition, and not to talk about things that happened within the courthouse, particularly in the judge's chambers," Bartley said

Not laughing at you, but at the broken record that is Bartley. He keeps circling back to his same old song of victim blaming and as ever, provides no basis for that.

Pressure and threats from "people" about unpsoken secret in chambers knowledge caused him to shoot a sitting judge in his chambers on video. Alrighty then

 

[OldAce]

Not laughing at you, but at the broken record that is Bartley. He keeps circling back to his same old song of victim blaming and as ever, provides no basis for that.

Pressure and threats from "people" about unpsoken secret in chambers knowledge caused him to shoot a sitting judge in his chambers on video. Alrighty then

Truth you reference may be stranger than the fiction cast over the whole case's cause. When is the trial date?

 

[tlcya]

Truth you reference may be stranger than the fiction cast over the whole case's cause. When is the trial date?

look, either Stines was suffering a psychotic break or he was legitimately in fear for his own life and those of his family members.

Bartley needs to decide which defense he is going with because right now he dances between both theories of his client's motives slicker than Fred Astaire. MOO

IMO it cannot be both.

 

[Seattle1]

Not laughing at you, but at the broken record that is Bartley. He keeps circling back to his same old song of victim blaming and as ever, provides no basis for that.

Pressure and threats from "people" about unpsoken secret in chambers knowledge caused him to shoot a sitting judge in his chambers on video. Alrighty then

And Bartley's talking in circles has come back at him in Stine's civil case where the plaintiff's attorney is seeking to re-depose Stines after Bartley insinuated Stines was less than truthful in his deposition because he was allegedly under the watch of powerful people and therefore under duress!

 

[OldAce]

look, either Stines was suffering a psychotic break or he was legitimately in fear for his own life and those of his family members.

Bartley needs to decide which defense he is going with because right now he dances between both theories of his client's motives slicker than Fred Astaire. MOO

IMO it cannot be both.

Now.. now...
When the law is against you, argue the facts...
When the facts are against you, argue the law...
When both are against you, just argue....

That is what good defenses attorneys do. Tedious for us onlookers, but very well liked buy the indicted. Actually, the other lawyer who originally appeared un hired and un asked is prolly working in the background. Lots to be learned here yet.

 

[Ontario Mom]

look, either Stines was suffering a psychotic break or he was legitimately in fear for his own life and those of his family members.

Bartley needs to decide which defense he is going with because right now he dances between both theories of his client's motives slicker than Fred Astaire. MOO

IMO it cannot be both.

I do have to wonder, if one could have caused the other? Or at least, if that's what the attorney is attempting to convey without just saying it?

 

[tlcya]

I don't think so. A real danger that causes psychosis which features delusions of being in danger? If that is Bartley's logic I find it circular.

 

[sds71]

In a court filing, Asst. Attorney General R. Ramsey Dallam and special prosecutor Jackie Steele argue that all grand jury procedures were properly followed and that claims of misconduct by the defense are unfounded.

The defense had alleged the indictment was invalid because part of the grand jury process was not recorded. But prosecutors say no testimony was presented during an Oct. 17, 2024, appearance, which was solely to request subpoenas for Stines’ medical and jail records —meaning no recording was legally required.

The only recorded testimony came the following month, when Det. Clayton Stamper presented evidence and answered juror questions. That recording has been provided to the defense.

Prosecutors also rejected claims that the grand jury was misled about Stines’ mental health or his decision not to speak with investigators, saying that argument “demonstrates a misunderstanding of the fundamental differences between grand jury proceedings and criminal trials.”

They point out that grand jury proceedings are investigative in nature and not bound by the same rules of evidence as criminal trials. They further note that jurors were given access to medical records and were free to ask questions.

The response argues that no false or misleading testimony was presented, and there’s no evidence the grand jury was denied critical information.

Prosecutors say dismissal of the indictment would be inappropriate and unsupported by law.

Prosecutors file opposition to attempt to dismiss Stines indictment - Mountain Top Media

WHITESBURG, Ky. — Prosecutors are pushing back against a motion to dismiss the indictment of former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, who is charged with the September 2024 murder of District Judge Kevin Mullins. In a court filing, Asst. Attorney General R. Ramsey Dallam and special...

mountain-topmedia.com

 

[vls12345]

In a court filing, Asst. Attorney General R. Ramsey Dallam and special prosecutor Jackie Steele argue that all grand jury procedures were properly followed and that claims of misconduct by the defense are unfounded.

The defense had alleged the indictment was invalid because part of the grand jury process was not recorded. But prosecutors say no testimony was presented during an Oct. 17, 2024, appearance, which was solely to request subpoenas for Stines’ medical and jail records —meaning no recording was legally required.

The only recorded testimony came the following month, when Det. Clayton Stamper presented evidence and answered juror questions. That recording has been provided to the defense.

Prosecutors also rejected claims that the grand jury was misled about Stines’ mental health or his decision not to speak with investigators, saying that argument “demonstrates a misunderstanding of the fundamental differences between grand jury proceedings and criminal trials.”

They point out that grand jury proceedings are investigative in nature and not bound by the same rules of evidence as criminal trials. They further note that jurors were given access to medical records and were free to ask questions.

The response argues that no false or misleading testimony was presented, and there’s no evidence the grand jury was denied critical information.

Prosecutors say dismissal of the indictment would be inappropriate and unsupported by law.

Prosecutors file opposition to attempt to dismiss Stines indictment - Mountain Top Media

WHITESBURG, Ky. — Prosecutors are pushing back against a motion to dismiss the indictment of former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, who is charged with the September 2024 murder of District Judge Kevin Mullins. In a court filing, Asst. Attorney General R. Ramsey Dallam and special...

mountain-topmedia.com

I wonder if part of this stems from the fact that Bartley (& his wife, who is also a lawyer on Stines' case) are car/truck accident/personal injury lawyers? I feel like they are unqualified to properly represent Stines in the assassination of a sitting judge. I am surprised the court hasn't questioned their qualifications for this particular case.

Somerset Car Wreck & Personal Injury Attorneys | The Law Office of Jeremy A. Bartley, PSC

At The Law Office of Jeremy A. Bartley, PSC, we focus on criminal defense, providing legal representation to protect your rights and freedom | 606-485-1713

www.carwreckattorneykentucky.com

And, yeah, I feel like the defense is flip-flopping, trying innuendo to see what they think might fly.

MOO.

 

[OldAce]

I don't think so. A real danger that causes psychosis which features delusions of being in danger? If that is Bartley's logic I find it circular.

"A real danger that causes psychosis which features delusions of being in danger"

Yes, often known or felt as FEAR.... As when a gun is stuck in your face by an aggressor. or as the vehicle you are driving seems to have locked on acceleration. I just did not know the scientific name.
Very prominent during the episode and sometimes you can relive it years later in waking up from a dream.

 

[tlcya]

"A real danger that causes psychosis which features delusions of being in danger"

Yes, often known or felt as FEAR.... As when a gun is stuck in your face by an aggressor. or as the vehicle you are driving seems to have locked on acceleration. I just did not know the scientific name.
Very prominent during the episode and sometimes you can relive it years later in waking up from a dream.

I am not following you I guess

fear doesn't cause delusions [defined as an unshakable belief in something that's untrue] or psychosis?

If a gun is stuck in your face that is a real threat. Imagining someone is sticking a gun in your face is delusion. The two are not the same nor are they interchangeable MOO

ETA what you refer to sounds more like PTSD to me. That isn't psychosis or delusion, it is a (now) irrational fear based on what was at one point in the past a very real terrifying experience.

 

[OldAce]

I am not following you I guess

fear doesn't cause delusions [defined as an unshakable belief in something that's untrue] or psychosis?

If a gun is stuck in your face that is a real threat. Imagining someone is sticking a gun in your face is delusion. The two are not the same nor are they interchangeable MOO

And if he removed the gun, but indicated he might return; and activate it, you would just totally forget the episode. You are a very strong person.

 

[tlcya]

And if he removed the gun, but indicated he might return; and activate it, you would just totally forget the episode. You are a very strong person.

are you suggesting the victim in this case at some prior point stuck a gun in the face of the accused murderer? Nothing substantiates such a leap. JMO

 

[OldAce]

are you suggesting the victim in this case at some prior point stuck a gun in the face of the accused murderer? Nothing substantiates such a leap. JMO

No, me.