KY - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - 19 Seprember 2024 # 4

[Seattle1]

Ex-sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines tries again to remove judge from case

Judge Christopher Cohron previously denied a request from Shawn 'Mickey' Stines that he recuse himself from the murder trial.

www.courttv.com

4/1/26

WHITESBURG, Ky. (Court TV) — Less than a month after his original request was denied, former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines is fighting to have the judge removed from his case.

[..]

Now, Stines has filed an affidavit with the court, saying, in part, “It is my belief that I will not be afforded a fair and impartial trial or pretrial proceedings by Judge Cohron and seek the designation of a special judge pursuant to KRS 26A.020.”

The Kentucky law referenced in the affidavit allows for either party in a case to file an affidavit seeking a new judge if they feel they cannot get a fair trial.

 

[Prancy]

Watching Defense attorney Jeremy Bartley on VPI right now….omg, he looks exactly like the defendant! Even facial hair is the same! Bizarre! Like twins.

 

[Prancy]

I’m wondering why this case doesn’t have more input here. I find it such a mystery. The most reason report of what the sheriff did between lunch af going into judge’s chambers is really bizarre. I have to find a link for it before I can post it here. It was reported on Vinnie Pollaton last week. I think she is a local lawyer who has a tv show.

 

[Luna20]

I’m wondering why this case doesn’t have more input here. I find it such a mystery. The most reason report of what the sheriff did between lunch af going into judge’s chambers is really bizarre. I have to find a link for it before I can post it here. It was reported on Vinnie Pollaton last week. I think she is a local lawyer who has a tv show.

Vinnie Politan is with Court Tv

Vinnie Politan - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Prancy]

Right. He was hosting a show on court tv featuring this case and a female guest gave information about something the sheriff did between the lunch and shooting. I’m trying to find the link so I can post what she said. It’s my understanding of the rules that I need a link for it,

 

[Missourian]

Right. He was hosting a show on court tv featuring this case and a female guest gave information about something the sheriff did between the lunch and shooting. I’m trying to find the link so I can post what she said. It’s my understanding of the rules that I need a link for it,

There was some talk of the sheriff and the judge swapping guns during lunch. I don’t think that was verified, however.

 

[Prancy]

What was reported on that show is that the sheriff took boxed lunches to the needy. They apparently delivered lunch to seniors, disabled, etc. Later his vehicle is caught on video driving back to the courthouse.

 

[arielilane]

New footage reveals what happened before a sheriff shot a judge inside a courthouse - Survival World

Image Credit: Nate The Lawyer

www.survivalworld.com

Newly released video is giving the public a much closer look at the moments before a Kentucky sheriff shot and killed a judge inside the judge’s chambers, and attorney Nathaniel “Nate” Broughty says the footage fills in a part of the story that had been missing from the start.

In his latest video, Nate the Lawyer walks through what he says is the most important development so far: the newly released camera footage appears to show former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines using Judge Kevin Mullins’ phone, entering the passcode, checking for a number, and then reacting in a way that quickly turned deadly.

That sequence matters because, for months, the biggest question in the case has been the simplest one. Why would a sheriff shoot a judge he reportedly knew well, worked with for years, and had just shared lunch with earlier that same day?

 

[tlcya]

Nate the Lawyer spends most of his attention on the moment that followed, and it is easy to see why.

He says the footage shows Stines on his own phone first, then leaning forward and asking Mullins if he can see the judge’s phone. Mullins hands it over. Then, according to Broughty, Stines asks for the passcode and enters it himself.

From there, Broughty says it appears the sheriff was checking whether a particular number was saved in the judge’s phone.

He also refers to testimony that Stines tried to call his daughter and then tried to call her from Mullins’ phone as well. In the clip he reviews, someone confirms that officers had established that Stines’ daughter’s number was on the judge’s phone.

Then, according to Broughty, everything changed.

He says Stines saw “whatever he sees,” became animated, stood up, pulled his gun, and started shooting the judge.

That is the hinge point in the whole case.
New footage reveals what happened before a sheriff shot a judge inside a courthouse - Survival World

meh, I will give it a listen but the article sounds as if Nate is still pushing the daughter's phone number was stored in judge's phone nonsense and that is simply not true, no matter how much better a story it might make this case for the youtube crowd.

It simply did not happen that way and that has been corrected by LE almost immediately after the on LEO testifying misspoke creating a wrong impression.

 

[Cryptic]

meh, I will give it a listen but the article sounds as if Nate is still pushing the daughter's phone number was stored in judge's phone nonsense and that is simply not true

I suspect that there was a "forbidden number" on the phone.

If so, that forbidden number may belong to a Ms. O' Jayled that Stines had called "dibs" on earlier. In the end, I think both men were arranging uhhmmm..... " special services" for favors at the county jail.

The judge then takes more than his fair share? Or, directs his interests towards a special somebody that Stines had more than just a previous and impersonal "service" connection with?

Some people cycle through a county jail quite often. So, there could be time for a "service" connection to mature into a friendship and a promise or expectation that the proverbial- but in this case, literal "other guy" wont approach her.

 

[tlcya]

I suspect that there was a "forbidden number" on the phone.

If so, that forbidden number may belong to a Ms. O' Jayled that Stines had called "dibs" on earlier. In the end, I think both men were arranging uhhmmm..... " special services" for favors at the county jail.

The judge then takes more than his fair share? Or, directs his interests towards a special somebody that Stines had more than just a previous and impersonal "service" connection with?

Some people cycle through a county jail quite often. So, there could be time for a "service" connection to mature into a friendship and a promise or expectation that the proverbial- but in this case, literal "other guy" wont approach her.

maybe but the continued suggestion as was made in the clip I posted from the article discussing Nate's video on the topic clearly suggested it was confirmed that the sheriff's daughter's phone number was "on the phone" as in that information is what led to the shooting and that has been debunked long ago. The only reason the only reason that number was on the phone was because the sheriff had himself just dialed it using Mullins phone. So logic dictates it would be the last call on his phone.

your theory could be correct, but how does that tie in with his alleged extreme emotional disturbance and his reported concerns about his family's safety?

 

[Cryptic]

your theory could be correct, but how does that tie in with his alleged extreme emotional disturbance and his reported concerns about his family's safety?

Color me cynical cinnamon, but my guess is that citing safety fears for ones own family makes a more attractive defense concept than:

- "Small town favors with various jailed ladies got crazy for reasons "A", "B" or "C". I then had an honor rage moment "

As for extreme emotional disturbances, the thought of real or de facto LWOP would be extremely disturbing to me as well.

 

[tlcya]

Color me cynical cinnamon, but my guess is that citing safety fears for ones own family makes a more attractive defense concept than:

- "Small town favors with various jailed ladies got crazy for reasons "A", "B" or "C" "

As for extreme emotional disturbances, the thought of real or de facto LWOP would be extremely disturbing to me as well.

ah, I am picking up what you are laying down. This case is so bizarre I wouldn't be surprised if you are correct.