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

[Muddy K]

You know what I wonder? Amidst the self-inflicted calamity he has now brought upon himself and all who are close to him, is Stines also grieving?

So many MSM stories report a decades-long friendship between the two men, a history of close collaboration for the greater good, etc. Did that bond also die under those eight bullets? What was so important that it was worth killing that, too?

 

[Seattle1]

Oh. Ok. I guess I didn't realize that. I was basing my comment on the Vinnie P. interview with the plaintiffs' lawyer.

Sheriff Allegedly Ignored Signs Deputy Abused Woman in Judge's Chambers

Sheriff Mickey Stines, who allegedly shot and killed judge Kevin Mullins, is accused of ignoring signs that his deputy abused women.

www.courttv.com

Nope. Mullins was the District Court Judge for low level crimes. Felonies get bumped up to the Circuit Court.

Sentencing is set for ex-deputy - The Mountain Eagle

Sentencing is set for January 4 for a former Letcher County deputy sheriff who has pleaded guilty to charges that he forced a woman on home incarceration to have sex with him in exchange for turning off her monitoring bracelet. Ben Fields, who was a court security officer for the sheriff ’s...

www.themountaineagle.com

11/22/23

The case was prosecuted by Barbara Whaley of the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office and was heard by Pike Circuit Judge Eddy Coleman. Court documents show hearings related to the case were held in at least three counties other than Letcher.

 

[NervousNellie]

You know what I wonder? Amidst the self-inflicted calamity he has now brought upon himself and all who are close to him, is Stines also grieving?

So many MSM stories report a decades-long friendship between the two men, a history of close collaboration for the greater good, etc. Did that bond also die under those eight bullets? What was so important that it was worth killing that, too?

I think he did his grieving before he shot the judge. JMO.

 

[Parsnip]

I just don’t see someone committing such a public homicide and sticking around for what he KNOWS will follow in the Court and publicly, if he was trying to hide something he was guilty of.

I’m not fully convinced it was premeditated (maybe it was a reaction to what he saw on the phone?), but I recall that he *did* initially leave the building…maybe he was planning on running? Then thought that was cowardly, so he decided to face the music. He doesn’t seem all that interested in defending himself since he hasn’t hired a lawyer (though he must know every one in the county). I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up pleading guilty and never says a word.

 

[KonaHonu]

Here are the aggravating factors for seeking the death penalty for murder in Kentucky. I would think only (e) an (h) could possibly apply.

Aggravating Factors by State

The Death Penalty Information Center is a non-profit organization serving the media and the public with analysis and information about capital punishment.…

deathpenaltyinfo.org

Kentucky: K.S.A. 21-6224

21-6624. Aggravating circumstances. Aggravating circumstances shall be limited to the following:

(a) The defendant was previously convicted of a felony in which the defendant inflicted great bodily harm, disfigurement, dismemberment or death on another.
(b) The defendant knowingly or purposely killed or created a great risk of death to more than one person.
(c) The defendant committed the crime for the defendant’s self or another for the purpose of receiving money or any other thing of monetary value.
(d) The defendant authorized or employed another person to commit the crime.
(e) The defendant committed the crime in order to avoid or prevent a lawful arrest or prosecution.
(f) The defendant committed the crime in an especially heinous, atrocious or cruel manner. A finding that the victim was aware of such victim’s fate or had conscious pain and suffering as a result of the physical trauma that resulted in the victim’s death is not necessary to find that the manner in which the defendant killed the victim was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel. Conduct which is heinous, atrocious or cruel may include, but is not limited to:
(1) Prior stalking of or criminal threats to the victim;
(2) preparation or planning, indicating an intention that the killing was meant to be especially heinous, atrocious or cruel;
(3) infliction of mental anguish or physical abuse before the victim’s death;
(4) torture of the victim;
(5) continuous acts of violence begun before or continuing after the killing;
(6) desecration of the victim’s body in a manner indicating a particular depravity of mind, either during or following the killing; or
(7) any other conduct the trier of fact expressly finds is especially heinous.
(g) The defendant committed the crime while serving a sentence of imprisonment on conviction of a felony.
(h) The victim was killed while engaging in, or because of the victim’s performance or prospective performance of, the victim’s duties as a witness in a criminal proceeding.

 

[Chimera]

Seizing Assets?

snipped for focus. @Chimera
Trying to follow ^ line of thought.

1. Assuming "they" refers to Commonwealth of KY, or a dept., agency, or entity,
on what legal basis would "they" have authority to seize any of MS's assets?

2. Would ^ seizure be made to secure payment for private atty to rep MS in this crim case? Or for some other purpose?

If I'm misunderstanding the Q in ^ post, my apologies.

ETA: IDK why my post is in all blue & bold. can't seem to edit formatting.

___________________________________________
Garnishment. Yes, gen'ly occurs only following a judgment w a ct order for a specific amt.
"... a court ordered process for collecting on a judgment, which takes money directly from the defendant’s wages or other third party who owes the defendant a debt. A garnishment order instructs a third-party who owes money to the defendant, typically the defendant’s employer or the defendant’s bank, to pay some or all of that money to the plaintiff instead of the defendant. This third party is called a garnishee."
^ garnishment from Wex (lli)
See also Garnishment - Wikipedia

I believe someone upthread posted that this is a beginning formality and Stines may indeed be compelled at a further date to pay for his own defense ??
If that is the case, IMO I don't think it would be harsh.
Apologies IANAL and was coming at this from a layperson's perspective.
Thanks for explaining it better than I could.
Omo.

 

[Chimera]

If Stines killed Mullins because he was afraid Mullins “had dirt” on him that could ruin him (job, family, reputation, etc) I would have expected him to either do it privately where he thought he could get away with it (i.e. make it look like an accident or that someone else was responsible) or, if he did it in the public manner like he did, that he would take his own life so he wouldn’t have to face the consequences.

Killing the Judge in such a public manner and then waiting at the scene to be arrested makes it seem (to me) like he WANTS his reasons to be revealed. These “reasons” could be REAL or perceived.

I just don’t see someone committing such a public homicide and sticking around for what he KNOWS will follow in the Court and publicly, if he was trying to hide something he was guilty of.

I’d love to see what others here think because these are just my thoughts. I just feel like if I wanted so badly to keep a horrible secret about my own bad deeds that I would kill someone to keep my secret, I wouldn’t kill someone in such a public manner and stick around for the consequences knowing that all my dirt will now become public.

Very well said.
This is so baffling.

Stines knows more than some people about actions and the consequences thereof.
What was he thinking ??
Omo.

 

[Angelcat13]

Very well said.
This is so baffling.

Stines knows more than some people about actions and the consequences thereof.
What was he thinking ??
Omo.

Thank you!

 

[Seattle1]

Josh Miller appearing with Sheriff Stines at the arraignment is really off to me. He was not appointed by any Court but there he is, standing next to Stines.

The Commonwealth is going on record asking these questions as to why Josh Miller is present. IMO, Prosecution drawing a line in the sand and going on record that there's to be no courtesy going on here behind the scenes.

Judge appointed Stines, on a limited basis only, a public defender (Josh Miller) to represent him up to the prelim hearing. out of practicality.

Stines does not appear to be indigent but doesn't mean he won't qualify for a public defender given he's a capital offense defendant (eligible for the DP). Other considerations would be Kentucky is a separate property state. Does his wife own half or 100% of their real estate?
Is Stines retirement exempt from assets considered for qualifying for PD?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/09/25/kentucky-sheriff-arraignment-judge-shooting-court/

9/25/24

During Wednesday’s brief hearing, Stines told the court he did not have a lawyer yet, but he appeared with Josh Miller, the attorney who directs the capital trial branch at Kentucky’s Department of Public Advocacy.

Since Stines’s case is eligible for the death penalty under Kentucky law, Miller argued that his defense would be too costly for Stines.

 

[al66pine]

Public Defender for MS. On a continuing basis?

I believe someone upthread posted that this is a beginning formality and Stines may indeed be compelled at a further date to pay for his own defense ??
If that is the case, IMO I don't think it would be harsh.
Apologies IANAL and was coming at this from a layperson's perspective.
Thanks for explaining it better than I could.
Omo.

@Chimera Thx for responding. No apologies needed.

Although I have not yet seen ct. hearing vid or details, mkt. value of MS's assets, etc., agreeing that the ct allowing pub defender to rep MS is subject to modification, as MS provides further personal financial info. imo.

He may be ordered to pay for his own defense. We'll see.

 

[Seattle1]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/09/25/kentucky-sheriff-arraignment-judge-shooting-court/

His wife was in the zoom call.

Huh? I did not ready anything about Stines wife-- or anybody else for that matter, identified in the zoom call in the link by OP. Please clarify.

 

[KonaHonu]

Huh? I did not ready anything about Stines wife-- or anybody else for that matter, identified in the zoom call in the link by OP. Please clarify.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/09/25/kentucky-sheriff-arraignment-judge-shooting-court/

8th paragraph...

BBM

"Miller countered that Stines is expected to lose his job as Letcher County sheriff and that his family “is not prepared for this eventuality.” Stines’s wife, Caroline, appeared virtually at the Wednesday hearing but did not speak."

 

[KonaHonu]

Are there any locals lurking here?

 

[Seattle1]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/09/25/kentucky-sheriff-arraignment-judge-shooting-court/

8th paragraph...

BBM

"Miller countered that Stines is expected to lose his job as Letcher County sheriff and that his family “is not prepared for this eventuality.” Stines’s wife, Caroline, appeared virtually at the Wednesday hearing but did not speak."

Thanks!

 

[fred&edna]

Josh Miller appearing with Sheriff Stines at the arraignment is really off to me. He was not appointed by any Court but there he is, standing next to Stines.

The Commonwealth is going on record asking these questions as to why Josh Miller is present. IMO, Prosecution drawing a line in the sand and going on record that there's to be no courtesy going on here behind the scenes.

Judge appointed Stines, on a limited basis only, a public defender (Josh Miller) to represent him up to the prelim hearing. out of practicality.

Stines does not appear to be indigent but doesn't mean he won't qualify for a public defender given he's a capital offense defendant (eligible for the DP). Other considerations would be Kentucky is a separate property state. Does his wife own half or 100% of their real estate?
Is Stines retirement exempt from assets considered for qualifying for PD?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/09/25/kentucky-sheriff-arraignment-judge-shooting-court/

9/25/24

During Wednesday’s brief hearing, Stines told the court he did not have a lawyer yet, but he appeared with Josh Miller, the attorney who directs the capital trial branch at Kentucky’s Department of Public Advocacy.

Since Stines’s case is eligible for the death penalty under Kentucky law, Miller argued that his defense would be too costly for Stines.

Maybe a Stines family member or friend asked Mr Miller to appear? And, I doubt the Leslie County jailer's officer nor Stines refused. Just guessing.

 

[nerosleuth]

Yes- several years ago my dad and I were traveling through Kentucky and there were candidate signs everywhere. For Sheriff, jailer, and judge. Not being from Kentucky my dad inquired of our server why “jailer” was an elected position.

He said, “The sheriff brings ‘em in, the judge locks ‘em up, the jailer keeps ‘em locked up.”

I'm a native of Kentucky that is living outside of Kentucky, and I can confirm that yes, the jailer is an elected position in Kentucky.

The jailer operates the county jail, transports county jail inmates to their court hearings, and also transports county jail inmates that are sentenced to serve a prison term in the state prison.

Sheriffs in Kentucky do not operate or oversee a county jail.

I will point out that some areas in Kentucky have their own county jails and some areas have regional jails.

There are some counties in Kentucky that have old county jails that don't meet the current state standards to house jail inmates.

Due to the high cost of building new jails to replace a old county jail, some counties opt to send their inmates to a regional jail.

if an old county jail is still in a fair shape, it can be used during the daytime as a holding cell for jail inmates having their court hearing that day. Courthouses can also have temporary holding cells too.

Just about anyone can run for the county jailer position in Kentucky.

My goodness, I've heard of people that never had any kind of law enforcement experience or any kind of experience working in jails running for election to the county jailer position.

Personally, I think anyone running for election to the county jailer position should have law enforcement experience or have some experience working in jails.

And here's another thing that folks outside of Kentucky don't know.

Due to the serious overcrowding of the state prison system in Kentucky, anyone convicted of a felony where the sentence is five years or less will serve that state prison sentence in a county jail.

Not all county jails in Kentucky hold state prisoners. They're housed in a handful of facilities statewide that are newer jails.

One thing is for sure. If Stines is convicted, his prison sentence will be longer than five years, and it will definitely be served in a state prison.

 

[Seattle1]

Find Help - Department of Public Advocacy

Our clients come to us for assistance in a wide variety of legal situations. We have listed below some of the most frequent reasons why you might be looking for assistance. If you do not find what you are looking for here, you can contact us, and we will respond to you as quickly as […]

dpa.ky.gov

Any “needy” or “indigent” person charged with a crime which carries a penalty of jail time, or a fine of $500 or more, is entitled to public defender services. A “needy” or “indigent” person is one “who, at the time his need is determined, is unable to provide for the payment of an attorney and all other necessary expenses of representation.”

In order to receive the help of a public defender lawyer you must ask your judge to appoint the public defender. You should hire a lawyer or ask the court for a public defender at your first court appearance and before you consider any offer from the prosecutor. Many judges in Kentucky will require that you first fill out an “Affidavit of Indigency.” In the affidavit, the court will require you to tell them personal information about your finances. This is required, and if you refuse to disclose your finances there is a chance that the Court will not appoint a lawyer to help you.

It is helpful to fill out this form before you go to court, or before your friend or family member is brought to court from the jail. Some judges will not wait for you to fill out this form in court and will set you for another court date where you can ask for a lawyer. If you walk in with the form completed, they may consider your request on that court date. The form can be downloaded HERE. You can also request a paper copy of the Affidavit of Indigency from the Clerk’s Office at your local courthouse. You can also contact the local DPA office that provides services in the county where your case is located.

https://dpa.ky.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/AOC-350.pdf

 

[al66pine]

Find Help - Department of Public Advocacy

Our clients come to us for assistance in a wide variety of legal situations. We have listed below some of the most frequent reasons why you might be looking for assistance. If you do not find what you are looking for here, you can contact us, and we will respond to you as quickly as […]

dpa.ky.gov

Any “needy” or “indigent” person charged with a crime which carries a penalty of jail time, or a fine of $500 or more, is entitled to public defender services. A “needy” or “indigent” person is one “who, at the time his need is determined, is unable to provide for the payment of an attorney and all other necessary expenses of representation.”

In order to receive the help of a public defender lawyer you must ask your judge to appoint the public defender. You should hire a lawyer or ask the court for a public defender at your first court appearance and before you consider any offer from the prosecutor. Many judges in Kentucky will require that you first fill out an “Affidavit of Indigency.” In the affidavit, the court will require you to tell them personal information about your finances. This is required, and if you refuse to disclose your finances there is a chance that the Court will not appoint a lawyer to help you.

It is helpful to fill out this form before you go to court, or before your friend or family member is brought to court from the jail. Some judges will not wait for you to fill out this form in court and will set you for another court date where you can ask for a lawyer. If you walk in with the form completed, they may consider your request on that court date. The form can be downloaded HERE. You can also request a paper copy of the Affidavit of Indigency from the Clerk’s Office at your local courthouse. You can also contact the local DPA office that provides services in the county where your case is located.

https://dpa.ky.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/AOC-350.pdf

@Seattle1

Thanks for digging in, as you so often do to get to the heart of the issue.

 

[Inthedetails]

Does his wife own half or 100% of their real estate?
Is Stines retirement exempt from assets considered for qualifying for PD?

Snipped

Great point. Assets could be in wife's name.

Whatever the case, I think he'll be awarded a public defender. The man knows how the system works, and I don't think he will be floundering trying to find a lawyer he wants (and looks like he might have done that ahead of time?? idk).

jmo

 

[shetalksinstereo]

Snipped

Great point. Assets could be in wife's name.

Whatever the case, I think he'll be awarded a public defender. The man knows how the system works, and I don't think he will be floundering trying to find a lawyer he wants (and looks like he might have done that ahead of time?? idk).

jmo

Maybe they moved the assets to the wife with all the other stuff that was circulating prior?