Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024 # 4

[Ontario Mom]

That is interesting that mullins had the cameras installed in his chamber where the sex acts were taking place. Would be interesting to find out who installed it and when, was it billed to the court or did he pay for it. Who had access to play and watch what was on the footage?

Jmo

I may have missed this detail, but has it been reported that it was judge Mullins that had the surveillance cameras installed in that office?

 

[Elley Mae]

I may have missed this detail, but has it been reported that it was judge Mullins that had the surveillance cameras installed in that office?

From link in Seattle1 post 131

The office said security cameras were added to the judge's chambers at Mullins' request.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

It doesn't really matter IMO.
Because
the Sheriff turned himself in immediately after the shooting
and admitted killing the Judge.

Of course, but it's a component of his psychological state if he did what he did while aware of the cameras (especially considering how easily Stines could have found a more private venue to be alone with Mullins). MOO

 

[OldAce]

That is interesting that mullins had the cameras installed in his chamber where the sex acts were taking place. Would be interesting to find out who installed it and when, was it billed to the court or did he pay for it. Who had access to play and watch what was on the footage?

Jmo

I wondered when someone would ask that question. Some restrictions on topics sorta limit understanding.

 

[LadyL]

But the Sheriff had just been deposed on the previous matter with I guess no indication that he was personally involved. But it also seems that something in that deposition seemed to alarm him? What was it?

and whatever it was, it was bad enough that life in prison was a better option for him

 

[LadyL]

That is interesting that mullins had the cameras installed in his chamber where the sex acts were taking place. Would be interesting to find out who installed it and when, was it billed to the court or did he pay for it. Who had access to play and watch what was on the footage?

Jmo

I thought the lady in Entin's video said the sex acts took place in another room that was also the judge's chambers - she described it as having a different desk. I'm not sure if she was referring to all of the incidents though.

 

[LadyL]

I don't know if what they are saying is true, and withhold my decision on that until I hear more information. With that being said, it seems there was a lot more going on in the jail and judges chambers than most people knew about. Do I think the judge should have been shot and killed? No Do I think the Sheriff should be charged for his murder? Yes But I also think we need to listen to what these ladies have to say and take that into account as well. Especially since the librarian came forward.

If this did happen to these ladies, they are victims as well and shouldn't be blamed or shamed. Their life choices aren't justification for what they may have gone through. People with authority have been known to use that to their advantage in cases regarding SA.

@Tricia I completely agree with you....it's time to turn this over to the Feds and let them get this case figured out.

EBM

[bbm]

what happened with a librarian? I missed that

 

[Inthedetails]

and whatever it was, it was bad enough that life in prison was a better option for him

Or, he's counting on not being convicted, perhaps because he's "insane." Whatever it was, it might have been worth the risk of sitting in jail for awhile, until let go.

I continue to be unable to grasp what would prompt this blantant murder. I sit on the fence.

jmopinion

 

[OldAce]

and whatever it was, it was bad enough that life in prison was a better option for him

And he may have thought he was putting a stop to something that needed doing.
It just depends on the level of the situation he found himself in and his reaction.
I still think it is/was a massive corrupt practices monetary going on in the county.
Time will tell if he testifies in court...

 

[OldAce]

Or, he's counting on not being convicted, perhaps because he's "insane." Whatever it was, it might have been worth the risk of sitting in jail for awhile, until let go.

I continue to be unable to grasp what would prompt this blantant murder. I sit on the fence.

jmopinion

I think the feds are/were involved, but at a higher level as into the possible fraud with drug rehab money being disbursed. It flashed and was never connected on down to this particular county and it connection/operations.
Seems to have just vaporized, as so many high dollar/political associated do.

 

[cenazoic]

It doesn't really matter IMO.
Because
the Sheriff turned himself in immediately after the shooting
and admitted killing the Judge.

Could matter a lot; when Stines knew about the cameras. Could explain why he suddenly took the action he did, if he realized he’d been caught on camera doing something, say.

 

[OldAce]

Could matter a lot; when Stines knew about the cameras. Could explain why he suddenly took the action he did, if he realized he’d been caught on camera doing something, say.

My goodness... Could Stines have had occasion to ask the judge to delete or change or however you do it something on record, and the judge refuse. And Stines take it as a betrayal of confidence or failure to do a "professional courtesy" as LE circles do for each other.

 

[rogue ant]

At the end of the day, it is still a cold-blooded execution. The video doesn't lie and any "reasons" he may come up with will pale in comparison. IMO.

 

[OldAce]

At the end of the day, it is still a cold-blooded execution. The video doesn't lie and any "reasons" he may come up with will pale in comparison. IMO.

Agreed and understood and on film. Just still curious as to what the motive was.
Seems to be of interest to many here.

 

[Inthedetails]

Agreed and understood and on film. Just still curious as to what the motive was.
Seems to be of interest to many here.

Yes, it's no mystery that the murder happened. The mystery is why?!

jmopinion

 

[CLGM]

I wondered if the judge had encouraged the sheriff’s daughter to work in the county government…. and the sheriff knowing what that can mean for young women wanted to stop it, no matter the cost….

 

[Seattle1]

That is interesting that mullins had the cameras installed in his chamber where the sex acts were taking place. Would be interesting to find out who installed it and when, was it billed to the court or did he pay for it. Who had access to play and watch what was on the footage?

Jmo

Tbh, I don't think the "sexual abuse" was taking place in Judge Mullins' Official Chambers. I say this for a couple of reasons. First, in the civil lawsuit, Plaintiff Adkins alleged that all of the "sexual abuse" happened in Judge Mullins' Chambers because Deputy Fields told her there were no cameras here.

However, while Fields admitted to the "sexual abuse" alleged by Plaintiff Adkins, under oath, he denied that they ever had sexual contact in Judge Mullins' Chambers, or making any comment about there not being any cameras. When asked to the best of his knowledge which areas of the courthouse did not have cameras, Fields responded: the Judge's secretary's office, her bathroom, the jury room, all the courthouse bathrooms, and private offices.

After listening to more women including Kya Adams and Plaintiff Adkins describe their encounters as happening in Judge Mullins' Chambers, I believe they are conflating the entire area behind his courtroom as "Judge Mullins' Chambers," as opposed to what's defined as his official Chambers-- the sandwiched room in the center with his robe behind the door, and where we saw him being shot to death by Mickey Stines.

District Courtroom-1 is the only courtroom on the first floor of the Letcher County Courthouse, and behind the courtroom is a hallway that separates 'Mullins space'-- for lack of a better word-- from his courtroom where you have to pass through his Secretary's Office to reach Mullins Chambers, and off his Chambers is the larger room that we saw on surveillance where a large group sat around a table with Mullins.

Fields further provided, under oath, that he had card key access to the building, giving him access to the side door entrance that opened to the hallway leading to Mullins' area and private Chambers, but if the door to Mullins' Chambers was locked, he would not have access. Mullins would have to leave the door to his Chambers unlocked overnight for Fields to have access after hours.

DOST PROTEST TOO MUCH?

In the 8/21/25 MSM previously linked, I thought it was somewhat self-serving that the only reports to the AOC for Judge Mullins were by Mullins himself. First, he reported the allegations made in the 1/31/22 federal civil lawsuit against LCSO, alleging non-judicial staff were engaging in sexual acts in his office, and second, that Mullins personally requested security cameras be added to the judge's chambers.

Requesting cameras inside the sanctity of Chambers in itself is highly suspicious to me, and contrary to judicial tradition and privacy expectations to have surveillance cameras in a judge's chambers. Judges' chambers are considered a secure and private extension of the judge's work and not a public area for observation.

IMO, Mullins would have likely known that Fields disputed the Plaintiff's allegations and his assertion that there was never any sexual contact inside his Chambers. He also would have known whether or not he routinely locked his door. In other words, just the nature of the Judicial Office would deem a camera unnecessary-- especially since security for judges is focused on controlled access and vigilance rather than spying / surveillance. MOO

Photos of the 2nd floor/Circuit Court linked below for illustration purposes only. Seems no photos for Courtroom-1 are currently available.

Letcher County - American Courthouses

Letcher County is named for Robert P Letcher, who was the Governor of Kentucky from 1840 to 1844. Surrounding County Courthouses: N – Knott County and Pike County E – Wise County, Virginia S – Harlan County W – Perry County and Knott County Created: May 3, 1842 …...

courthouses.co

 

[Seattle1]

I wondered if the judge had encouraged the sheriff’s daughter to work in the county government…. and the sheriff knowing what that can mean for young women wanted to stop it, no matter the cost….

I think it possible that Mickey Stines took Mullins out not for his daughter, but for all the daughters. Stines was Mullins bailiff for 16 years-- he'd already seen a lot, and remained silent.

But based on the immediate support for Stines, coupled with the baseless rumor that quickly circulated, I do think Mullins was behind planting the rumor about his daughter in advance. Perhaps in part to measure his support by the community in the aftermath.

And I don't think there was a single event that caused Stines to lose it on Mullins but something that had been building over several years. JMO

 

[OldAce]

I wondered if the judge had encouraged the sheriff’s daughter to work in the county government…. and the sheriff knowing what that can mean for young women wanted to stop it, no matter the cost….

Ah so....

 

[Bipolar Express]

I don't know if any of this sex business will make it into the guilt phase of his trial, although I suspect his lawyers may try to have it admitted. These allegations do make me wonder if the video camera in the judge's chambers were there to defer sexual interactions or to record them for later viewing.

There was an overkill component to this event with an addition gunshot after the initial barrage. It has, since the beginning, been my thought that the sheriff felt some sense of betrayal from the judge (real or imagined). He obviously was under stress from the lawsuit. Although he in indemnified by the county, no-one (other than Alex Murdaugh at times) enjoys being sued. Civil complaints using legal jargon often come across as quite inflammatory. Did something come up during discovery that made MS feels like the judge had stabbed him in the back in some way?

The sheriff's actions after the event are confusing. He didn't run away. He didn't commit suicide. He simply voluntarily surrendered as if what he had done was justified in his mind. He wasn't insane, he knew what he did was illegal, possibly, at least in his own mind, felt like he did the right thing.

There absolutely had to be a personal component to this…his reputation, his family, his freedom, SOMETHING was on the line and the judge was pulling the strings. Nothing else makes. I think whatever it is, MS thinks he can prove it, and get off easy because of it. MOO.