KY, Judge Kevin Mullins killed, sheriff arrested, Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024 MEDIA, MAPS, & TIMELINE**NO DISCUSSION**

[Seattle1]

8/15/25

LIVE: Judge Killed by Sheriff Trial — KY v. Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines — Hearing​

Stines’ defense has filed a motion to dismiss the indictment against him, as well as another motion for bond.

 

[Izzylizzy]

3 hours ago

 

[Seattle1]

8/20/25

How many victims in Kentucky sex ring? More secrets exposed after sheriff shot judge​

 

[Seattle1]

8/19/25

Judge's murder exposes secret sex ring in small Kentucky town -- Sheriff accused of killing Judge​

 

[Seattle1]

Former inmate claims murdered judge was involved in sex-for-favors schemes

A recovered drug addict and former inmate is speaking out about alleged sexual misconduct by murdered Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins.

www.lex18.com

8/21/25

LETCHER COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — A recovered drug addict and former inmate is speaking out about alleged sexual misconduct by murdered Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins, claiming he used his judicial power to coerce female inmates into sexual encounters in exchange for court favors.

[..]

"I did coke off his desk in his chambers," Adams said.

Adams claims inmates from the Letcher County jail, located on the bottom floor of the courthouse, would be brought to various courthouse rooms after hours for alleged sexual encounters.

"It varied, sometimes it would just be you, sometimes it would be a couple more," Adams said.

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.

PREVIOUS ALLEGATIONS

Adams is not the first to make such accusations. In December, LEX 18 reported that another female inmate, Sabrina Adkins, told investigators with the Kentucky Attorney General's Office about similar claims in 2022, but nothing came from that investigation.

 

[Seattle1]

Letcher County Has A New Jailer | The Bulldog 103.9 FM | 103.9 The Bulldog | Whitesburg-KY

Letcher County has a new Jailer but he is a familiar face. On Wednesday Letcher County Judge/Executive Terry Adams held a swearing in ceremony for Brian Slo ...

1039thebulldog.com

8/22/24

Brian Slone has been with the jail for 24 years, most recently as Chief Deputy.

Assistant Chief Deputy Lena Hensley will be promoted to the Chief position.

 

[Seattle1]

12/2/24

Former EKY Commonwealth’s Attorney dies

He was a longtime public servant and served as Letcher County Commonwealth’s Attorney for 24 years, the longest-serving Republican office holder in Letcher County history.

www.wymt.com

 

[Seattle1]

Killed Letcher County judge brought up in old investigation interview

An interview from a 2022 investigation made national headlines last week after a mention in it of killed Letcher County District Court Judge Kevin Mullins came to light.

www.lex18.com

12/10/24

Mullins was never accused of anything related to the allegation in the interview or charged with anything. LEX 18 asked the attorney general’s office whether they ever investigated the claims against Mullins, and they told us to put in an open records request.

In the 2022 interview, the woman told the investigator that she recognized Mullins’ office because it was where she’d met with Fields. She also said that she recognized Mullins in the video because she’d been before him in court.

[...]

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.”

 

[Seattle1]

8/25/25

Kentucky sheriff killed judge after threats, lawyer says — body cam and exclusive interview​

 

[Seattle1]

Commonwealth seeks change of venue in Shawn Stines trial

Prosecutors are asking for the trial of former sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines, accused of killing a judge, to be moved from Letcher County.

www.courttv.com

9/2/25

In a petition filed Aug. 29, Commonwealth’s Attorney Jackie Steele argued that extensive media coverage and deep community connections to both men make it impossible for Stines to receive a fair trial in Letcher County or surrounding Eastern Kentucky counties.

“Every eligible voter in Letcher County either had a reason to vote for or against the defendant and the victim at one time,” prosecutors wrote in the filing. “The preconceived opinions as to the character and ability of these two men is likely to irreconcilably prejudice both the Commonwealth and the Defendant if this trial takes place in Letcher County.”

 

[Seattle1]

Former Kentucky sheriff fights venue change in judge murder case

The defense team for Shawn 'Mickey' Stines is pushing back on the Commonwealth's request to move the trial.

www.courttv.com

9/3/25

However, the defense contends that only Stines faces prejudice from the coverage, noting that media reports typically begin with video of the shooting. They argue the Commonwealth gained an advantage by using the Letcher County grand jury to secure an indictment, but now seeks to move the trial when coverage appears more balanced.

Stines’ defense also filed an additional brief supporting their motion to dismiss the indictment, claiming prosecutors presented false and misleading testimony to the grand jury that led to his charges.

In the motion, the defense argues that Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper gave false testimony when he told grand jurors that the investigation showed Stines was “in his sane mind” at the time of the shooting.

 

[Seattle1]

9/3/25

The court records - which were released and obtained by The Lexington Herald Leader before being sealed - also shed new light on Stines' mental health immediately after the shooting.

A medical report from Leslie County Detention Center staff revealed he was still in a state of 'active psychosis' for days after the shooting.

The September 23 report read: 'Upon evaluation of Mr. Stines, it appears that he is still in an active state of psychosis.'

'He appears disoriented and is only aware of things jail staff tell him. He has no recollection of the recent past.'

Wife of Kentucky sheriff sheds light on rumors about slain judge

Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines has been behind bars awaiting trial since the September 14 death of his longtime friend, District Judge Kevin Mullins.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Seattle1]

Prosecutors seek venue change for murder trial involving ex-Kentucky sheriff

Prosecutors want the murder trial involving the former Letcher County sheriff to be moved to another county, according to a recent court filing.

www.yahoo.com

9/3/25

According to court documents, investigators interviewed Attorney Daniel Dotson the day after the shooting. Dotson reportedly testified that he urged Stines to seek help.

“Dotson also told the KSP that he spoke to Kevin Mullins and told him that Mickey was ‘losing it’ and ‘couldn’t take this kind of pressure’ in reference to the Civil suit involving ‘some crack wanting money,'” Bartley wrote.

The pair had reportedly spoken the night before Mullins’ death, and Dotson recalled telling his wife that “that son of a [expletive] has lost his mind,” referencing Stines.

Christine Bolling, a Letcher County Sheriff’s Office staff member, was concerned about his “very strange behavior.” Specifically, also on Sept. 18, court documents state that Stines told Bolling that “Daniel Dotson had told him to give him money and kill himself or ‘they’ were going to kill,” Stines’ wife and daughter.

The sheriff then insisted that he went home to check on his family, made her get his bulletproof vest on, and had someone call to check on his daughter, per court documents. This is all reportedly captured on Ring camera footage.

Witnesses said that he was also making phone calls on the day of the shooting to check on family members who had been deceased for years.

 

[arielilane]

The daughter of a former Kentucky sheriff accused of killing a district judge denied having any relationship with the slain judge, according to grand jury transcripts.

Sheriff’s Daughter Says She Never Knew Slain Judge — Earlier, Police Noted Her Number in His Phone

Letcher County Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines has been charged with murder in connection with the death of 54-year-old District Judge Kevin Mullins in 2024.

people.com

Sept 4

 

[arielilane]

They used it against us and destroyed our lives: Alleged victim of killed Kentucky judge | Banfield​

 

[arielilane]

Judge's murder exposes secret sex ring in small Kentucky town -- Sheriff accused of killing Judge​

 

[arielilane]

How many victims in Kentucky sex ring? More secrets exposed after sheriff shot judge​

 

[Seattle1]

Court records show more details about former sheriff charged with murder of district judge

Attorneys submitted several briefs and motions this week.

www.wymt.com

9/4/25

Reports discussed in the brief included a medical record that claims Stines saw a doctor the day before the shooting, “accompanied by his friends who are concerned about his level of stress and loss of sleep.”

“There are multiple other witnesses who state similar observations and opinions. The KSP investigation is Detective Stamper’s investigation. Given the overwhelming evidence of Mr. Stines’ mental state prior to and immediately following the shooting, Detective Stamper had no clear basis for testifying that Mr. Stines was in his sane mind,” the document said. “The Commonwealth is not required to put on exculpatory evidence nor evidence demonstrating lack of criminal responsibility. However, the Commonwealth is not permitted to mislead and provide clearly false testimony when asked by the grand jury.”

 

[renah]

I'm still not ruling out the possibility of Stines having a brain tumor or other physical anomaly. He's past the

 

[Seattle1]

Commonwealth of Kentucky files change of venue motion in Stines trial, defense objects

The Commonwealth of Kentucky has filed a "petition for change of venue" in the trial of Shawn "Mickey" Stines, who is indicted for the murder of Letcher County Judge Kevin Mullins.

www.lex18.com

9/2/25

In the petition, the Commonwealth states that "KRS 452.210 requires a circuit judge to move the trial of a criminal action to an 'adjacent county' if it appears the defendant or the state will not receive a 'fair trial in the county where the prosecution is pending."

[..]

The defense also filed a motion to dismiss the murder indictment, claiming that the Commonwealth "violated the defendant's constitutional rights and elicited false and misleading testimony which prejudiced the defendant and tainted the grand jury proceedings."

According to the motion, medical records allegedly show that Stines was diagnosed with "acute stress reaction" on Sept. 18, 2024 - the day before Judge Mullins was killed in his chambers. The defense argues that this reported diagnosis contradicts testimony that mental health issues were not documented in the case.