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

[Izzylizzy]

<modsnip: off topic>

 

[Sillybilly]

Lawyer You Know is an approved source.

 

[Ontario Mom]

<modsnip: off topic>

Is there anything new in this update?

 

[tlcya]

LETCHER COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) — A special judge has denied multiple motions in the case against former Sheriff Shawn “Mickey Stines.
[snip]
Motion to dismiss indictment: Denied
[nmip]
Motion to set bond: Granted
[snip]
Motion to unseal psychological evaluation: Denied
https://fox56news.com/news/kentucky...s-in-letcher-county-courthouse-shooting-case/

 

[tlcya]

re the Motion to Dismiss:

The judge denied the motion, stating there is no evidence to support the claim that the jury was prejudiced by prosecutors' false testimony. Additionally, the judge said prosecutors did not violate RCr 5.16, which states all testimony before a grand jury must be recorded. According to the motion to deny, the Commonwealth did not provide testimony when meeting with the grand jury, rather it requested subpoenas, which did not violate the law.

re the Motion to unseal:

The judge denied this motion also, stating a "bail hearing is not a trial rehearsal." Furthermore, the judge said the hearing is to answer if proof of guilt is evident or the presumption of guilt is great, not to introduce evidence.

Ex-Kentucky sheriff charged with murder has motion to dismiss indictment denied

The judge will hear arguments for bond at an unspecified date. The motion to move the trial out of Lechter county has not been ruled upon yet.

 

[Seattle1]

The GJ was shown the video of Stines executing Mullins inside his Chambers, but Bartley believes his motion to dismiss the Indictment (for murder) should have been dismissed-- because a portion of the GJ was not recorded? I think Jeremy Barlett needs to stop thinking about his media headlines, and get ready to try his case, in Court!

Reportedly, “No testimony was provided to obtain those [subpoena] records; therefore, there is no recording,” prosecutors wrote regarding the October 2024 meeting.

If Stines Medical records were subpoenaed by the grand jury, no reason to believe they were not compliant.

Similar to the preliminary hearing, according to court documents, Detective Clayton Stamper was the Commonwealth’s only witness, and jurors were allowed to ask questions, affirming no information was denied.

Stamper is not qualified to answer questions about Stines mental health and/or capacity-- this is reserved for the State Expert Witnesses (and Defense Experts if claiming Insanity).

The public doesn't need to speculate about Stines Court ordered Psychological Evaluation-- again, save this for trial! I dunno-- seems to me that the defense would want to protect the integrity of his client's trial, and the jury pool too. IMO, Bartley seems intent on doing just the opposite! MOO

https://fox56news.com/news/kentucky...a-look-at-the-timeline-investigation/?ipid=il

 

[Sarg]

Family of judge killed in his chambers files wrongful death lawsuit

The family of a Kentucky judge shot and killed in his courthouse chambers has filed a civil lawsuit against the sheriff charged in his death and three sheriff’s office employees.

www.wkyt.com

 

[arielilane]

LETCHER COUNTY, Ky. (Scripps News Lexington) — A Kentucky judge has denied a motion to dismiss the indictment against former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, who is accused of fatally shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins in September 2024.

Judge denies motion to dismiss indictment against Shawn Stines

A judge has denied former sheriff Shawn Stines' request to dismiss an indictment in the shooting death of Judge Kevin Mullins.

www.courttv.com

The judge ruled that the Commonwealth satisfied its burden of presenting evidence for probable cause, and any alleged omissions or misrepresentations would not have changed the grand jury’s decision to indict.

 

[Seattle1]

Sheriff who shot judge dead unveils defense to avoid the death penalty

Ex-Letcher County Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines (left) who was caught on camera shooting Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, in September 2024, has made a bombshell claim.

www.dailymail.co.uk

12/9/25

 

[Chimera]

Sheriff who shot judge dead unveils defense to avoid the death penalty

Ex-Letcher County Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines (left) who was caught on camera shooting Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, in September 2024, has made a bombshell claim.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Lawyers representing ex-Letcher County Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines argued in court documents that he 'lacked the capacity to intend' to shoot and kill his good friend, District Court Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, in September 2024, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports.

Stines lawyers' said the sheriff was 'exhibiting paranoid and psychotic conduct' when he shot the judge inside his chambers.
Rbm.
First bolded :
Not sure the jury is going to buy that ?

Second bolded :
That behavior can be faked, though.

An interesting comment from a "K____y" about 16 hours ago.
Somewhat encapsulates what may be occurring in Stine's mind ?
Imo.

 

[Chimera]

Let's say if Stines were to come totally clean with everything, it could implicate himself in something he doesn't want known; so he's trying every other defense his mind can come up with and see if it takes ?
Omo.

 

[fsngruv]

Sheriff who shot judge dead unveils defense to avoid the death penalty

Ex-Letcher County Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines (left) who was caught on camera shooting Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, in September 2024, has made a bombshell claim.

www.dailymail.co.uk

12/9/25

No malice intended? There goes the whole vigilante/villain killing theory. We have the guilty act but the state of mind is supposedly insane, not the guilty act to knowingly remove a bad person who acted bad. Just an insane person who killed an innocent person for no reason except insanity or mental distress. I kinda feel like the defense might need a bell to locate their own rear end.

 

[Seattle1]

No malice intended? There goes the whole vigilante/villain killing theory. We have the guilty act but the state of mind is supposedly insane, not the guilty act to knowingly remove a bad person who acted bad. Just an insane person who killed an innocent person for no reason except insanity or mental distress. I kinda feel like the defense might need a bell to locate their own rear end.

Seems to me that Stines defense is trying to fit the statutory "exception" to a person not being guilty of Murder-1, applying extreme emotional disturbance with minimal effort and resistance. In other words, if they can't plead him out as NGBRI, then their objective will be to get his charges knocked down to manslaughter, eliminating both the DP and LWOP.

IMO, given this was an execution of an unarmed Judge-- witnessed across the world, a Manslaughter conviction and 20 years would be a huge win for Stines! JMO


From 507.020 Murder-

(1) A person is guilty of murder when:

(a) With intent to cause the death of another person, he causes the death of such person or of a third person;
except that in any prosecution, a person shall not be guilty under this subsection if he acted under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance for which there was a reasonable explanation or excuse, the reasonableness of which is to be determined from the viewpoint of a person in the defendant's situation under the circumstances as the defendant believed them to be. However, nothing contained in this section shall constitute a defense to a prosecution for or preclude a conviction of manslaughter in the first degree or any other crime; or.....

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=19717