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

[LadyL]

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.

oh boy
that would certainly result in him losing his family, and his job

 

[jepop]

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

RBBM. Do you mean Stines when conjecturing "...Mullins was behind planting the rumour about his daughter in advance" (Stines rather than Mullins)? And if, speculating further, Stines may have done so in part as a way to measure his support by the community in the aftermath...well I guess if true and proven as such, that would be a pretty damning as far as premeditation goes.

I may have misread your meaning entirely though!. If you do mean Mullins, why would he plant such a rumour...and in that case, what aftermath?

I'm no fan of Stines and I do believe he planned and thought about this execution in advance ( that is some time before entering the room) but I do have some doubts that the apparent rumours about his daughter and Mullins were deliberately started by Stines himself as part of an in-advance and calculated assessment of his chances of getting a down-grade from murder 1? Again, apologies if I'm misunderstanding something. Somehow, that is just a bit too much for me to take on board as probable or feasible atm. That's not to say that I don't believe Stines was capable of paranoia or fear around his daughter and family. Jmo

 

[Auntie Cipation]

oh boy
that would certainly result in him losing his family, and his job

But how would killing the judge help with compromising camera information? Did the judge have sole access to the cameras? Seems unlikely.

Plus, wouldn't Stines have stopped to take the camera or erase the recording showing him doing something wrong? (I mean whatever he originally did that prompted the killing, not the killing itself which is obviously also wrong)

MOO

 

[Curiousobserver]

I just hope this ends up going to trial so there is a chance we hear what the motive might have been. Every time I think I have some perfectly reasonable explanation- out the window into the streets of crazy town... It seems probable that abuse was more widespread among law enforcement. It also seems pretty clear that there must have been some knowledge, and perhaps involvement, by the Judge and the Sheriff in the illicit activities going on in that organization.

The person I want to hear from is that court clerk- she knows what happened here.

 

[Elley Mae]

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

Suit alleges Kentucky deputy forced woman to have sex in judge's chamber in lieu of fees

A woman has filed a federal lawsuit accusing a Letcher County deputy of coercing her into sex after she couldn't afford to pay for home incarceration.

www.courier-journal.com

…

“I seen Judge Mullins having sex with a girl … in the judge’s chambers,” Adkins told police in her interview at the time.

Kentucky judge killed by sheriff ran courthouse like ‘brothel’ — and traded sex for favors at twisted parties: victim

The rural Kentucky judge gunned down in his own chambers last year ran a twisted sex ring where young women were coaxed into performing sexual favors just to get out of trouble, one of the alleged …

nypost.com

…

Adkins told police she saw one of the videos, which she claims shows the deputy sheriff and “some higher ups” having sex in Mullins’ chambers in exchange for granting the inmates bail to get out of jail.

https://www.newsnationnow.com/crime/witness-kentucky-judge-mullins-traded-favors-for-sex/

 

[tlcya]

I would have to dig back through the other three prior threads to find it, but I recall the young woman in an interview months ago confirmed the shooting room was not the room she was taken to by Fields.

So either she wasn't SA'd in the judge's chambers but some other nearby private inaccessible to the public office. Or Mullins was not killed in his "chambers" but some other nearby small private office space. I am pretty sure she stated the room we all witnessed a shooting in was not the same room she claims to have been SA'd by Fields in.

Take it with as many grains of salt as you want to because it is time to head out and feed my dogs and later I have plans so I dont have time to go locate a link.

 

[PrairieWind]

I would have to dig back through the other three prior threads to find it, but I recall the young woman in an interview months ago confirmed the shooting room was not the room she was taken to by Fields.

So either she wasn't SA'd in the judge's chambers but some other nearby private inaccessible to the public office. Or Mullins was not killed in his "chambers" but some other nearby small private office space. I am pretty sure she stated the room we all witnessed a shooting in was not the same room she claims to have been SA'd by Fields in.

Take it with as many grains of salt as you want to because it is time to head out and feed my dogs and later I have plans so I dont have time to go locate a link.

If I remember right, the Judge's official Chambers is not this office the shooting was in. Is that correct?
The Sheriff is in charge of the security of a court house. So he would know where those cameras are. If there are other cameras, they are not placed there officially but by someone individually, which is another creepy thing.

 

[Seattle1]

I do think Mullins STINES was behind planting the rumor about his daughter in advance. Perhaps in part to measure his support by the community in the aftermath.

ETA: should read Stines, not Mullins. My error, sorry.

 

[mom2chloe]

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 am interested to know exactly where all the cameras were installed. Who had access to the footage and how? Was it real time?

 

[Seattle1]

RBBM. Do you mean Stines when conjecturing "...Mullins was behind planting the rumour about his daughter in advance" (Stines rather than Mullins)?

OP is correct, my intent was Stines. Thank you for pointing out my typo.

 

[Seattle1]

If I remember right, the Judge's official Chambers is not this office the shooting was in. Is that correct?
The Sheriff is in charge of the security of a court house. So he would know where those cameras are. If there are other cameras, they are not placed there officially but by someone individually, which is another creepy thing.

I believe we made some incorrect assumptions based on information that was publicly available at the time.

IMO, the shooting did happen inside the Judge's Official Chambers where his laundered robe was visible behind the closed door as Stines closed and locked the door. Most recently, AOC made a statement that a security camera was added to Judge Mullins' Chambers at his request (following the Jan 31, 2022 civil lawsuit). This camera in chambers is what captured Mullins execution by Stines.

The Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts said in an email that it has no record of receiving information suggesting misconduct by Mullins.

"The only allegations reported to the AOC involving Judge Mullins' chambers were made by the judge regarding the federal lawsuit filed about non-judicial staff engaging in sexual acts in his office," the statement read.

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

 

[Auntie Cipation]

I believe we made some incorrect assumptions based on information that was publicly available at the time.

IMO, the shooting did happen inside the Judge's Official Chambers where his laundered robe was visible behind the closed door as Stines closed and locked the door. Most recently, AOC made a statement that a security camera was added to Judge Mullins' Chambers at his request (following the Jan 31, 2022 civil lawsuit). This camera in chambers is what captured Mullins execution by Stines.

It would make sense to me that "the judge's chambers" might refer to a small suite that would likely include both an office (with a working desk and case files, law books and other reference materials) as well as a small meeting room, which would fit the room where we saw the shooting take place.

If this is accurate then both rooms would correctly be referred to as the judge's "chambers."

NB: I don't actually know anything about the layout in Letcher County -- the above description is purely my speculation and MOO.

 

[Seattle1]

I would have to dig back through the other three prior threads to find it, but I recall the young woman in an interview months ago confirmed the shooting room was not the room she was taken to by Fields.

So either she wasn't SA'd in the judge's chambers but some other nearby private inaccessible to the public office. Or Mullins was not killed in his "chambers" but some other nearby small private office space. I am pretty sure she stated the room we all witnessed a shooting in was not the same room she claims to have been SA'd by Fields in.

Take it with as many grains of salt as you want to because it is time to head out and feed my dogs and later I have plans so I dont have time to go locate a link.

Kya Adams, who recently spoke to Brian Entin on camera, is a good example of another woman alleging to have sex in "Judge Mullins' Chambers" but quickly disclaimed that the location was not the same where the world saw Mullins executed by Stines. [Assuming this was "Judge Mullins' Chambers" since Mullins personally requested a camera installed in his chambers].

Another example, in the civil lawsuit, Plaintiff Adkins alleged all "sexual abuse" occurred in "Judge Mullins' Chambers"-- but this was proven factually false-- given that the bathroom behind District Courtroom-1, the hallway, and the outer office (his secretary's office) are not the equivalent of "Judge Mullins' Chambers."

Reading the court docs, it becomes clear that the entire private, non-accessible area behind Courtroom-1 was incorrectly referenced as "Judge Mullins' Chambers." MOO

 

[Seattle1]

From December 2024 post in Media Only thread.

However, please take note that AOC confirmed Mullins personal request for a camera in his chambers wasn't reported until 8/21/25 (pursuant to FOIA).

According to the Administrative Office of the Courts, 18 additional cameras were installed at the Letcher County Courthouse after the woman’s federal lawsuit against Fields in 2022. The cameras were placed at the request of “the judges, circuit court clerk and sheriff (Stines).”

“These cameras were placed in various locations in the building, including the office areas of the circuit and district judges and the Office of Circuit Court Clerk,” according to the Administrative Office of the Courts. “There were cameras in the courthouse previously, but not in Judge Mullins’ chambers. The officials were involved in choosing camera placement and were provided monitors to view the camera coverage in their offices.”

 

[LadyL]

But how would killing the judge help with compromising camera information? Did the judge have sole access to the cameras? Seems unlikely.

Plus, wouldn't Stines have stopped to take the camera or erase the recording showing him doing something wrong? (I mean whatever he originally did that prompted the killing, not the killing itself which is obviously also wrong)

MOO

good point - this case is complex

idk anything about the cameras or who had access to them but the first lady who Entin interviewed about the nasty occurrences said that at least some of the incidents occurred in a different room which she said was also known as Mullin's 'chambers'

 

[LadyL]

I would have to dig back through the other three prior threads to find it, but I recall the young woman in an interview months ago confirmed the shooting room was not the room she was taken to by Fields.

So either she wasn't SA'd in the judge's chambers but some other nearby private inaccessible to the public office. Or Mullins was not killed in his "chambers" but some other nearby small private office space. I am pretty sure she stated the room we all witnessed a shooting in was not the same room she claims to have been SA'd by Fields in.

Take it with as many grains of salt as you want to because it is time to head out and feed my dogs and later I have plans so I dont have time to go locate a link.

yes she did say that
and that the desk in the 'other' chambers was different
I believe her

 

[Seattle1]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1960169154092380390

 

[OldAce]

Does anyone know if the judge; in his benevolence of rehab vs jail time, was ordering to any specific rehab facility?

Seems this would be a windfall for such a facility, steady supply, dry them out, they slip back into drugs, back in court rinse and repeat...

Such a cycle would be very lucrative for all except the offender...
But as we see here now, the offender is just a pawn in the use by some levels of LE.

I have considered this as an overall scheme since this occurred. JMO

 

[Seattle1]

Does anyone know if the judge; in his benevolence of rehab vs jail time, was ordering to any specific rehab facility?

Seems this would be a windfall for such a facility, steady supply, dry them out, they slip back into drugs, back in court rinse and repeat...

Such a cycle would be very lucrative for all except the offender...
But as we see here now, the offender is just a pawn in the use by some levels of LE.

I have considered this as an overall scheme since this occurred. JMO

Yes, from thread one -- a for profit center, Addiction Recovery Care (ARC), with several locations in KY. I believe the same was being investigated by FBI for insurance fraud.

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

Oct 1, 2024

Bbm.
Very possible.
He was unraveling perhaps and believe things were happening -- that, in actuality -- were not occurring at all ?
I'm also interested in some of Stine's dealings with perps and people in general during his tenure as a sheriff ?
Anyone going to come forward now, with what they may have perceived as unjust or shady dealings ?
Omo.

Stines is a large man, some reports citing his weight in excess of 300#. I've wondered if he started taking diet Rx or the non FDA compounds which may have triggered something unintended. One need not go far to read the negatives of...

• Seattle1

• 
• 
• 

ETA: FBI Investigation continuing in 2025

Exit from Addiction Recovery Care has nothing to do with FBI investigation, says departing exec • Kentucky Lantern

A top official at Addiction Recovery Care is leaving Kentucky's largest alcohol and drug treatment program to pursue "next challenge."

kentuckylantern.com

 

[Seattle1]

Kentucky lawyer climbed out of alcoholism, launched a recovery boom

Tim Robinson is the head of Addiction Recovery Care, Kentucky's largest substance treatment provider. State officials say Robinson — a lawyer and recovered alcoholic — is a leader in Kentucky's fight against addiction.

www.wkms.org

7/2/24