The Kentucky sheriff who fatally shot a judge in his chambers has remained unmoved as he pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.
Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines appeared in court for the first time after allegedly invading the Letcher County Courthouse in Kentucky and fatally shooting Judge Kevin Mullins last Thursday.
The virtual arraignment was held with Stines appearing remotely from the Leslie County Detention Center. He made no comment on the charges during the hearing and prosecutors did not present any evidence.
Judge Kevin Mullins, who served for 15 years, was shot multiple times and died at the scene.
Sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines appeared at a virtual arraignment for the first time since the fatal shooting of Judge Mullins last Thursday.
Stines was also questioned about his financial situation by Regional District Chief Judge Ruper Wilhoit after he requested a court-appointed judge.
Public defender Josh Miller said, “Sir, it’s my understanding that you’re in the process of losing your job as Letcher County Sheriff, obviously, and you’re not going to have any income going forward,” he said. CNN.
Miller was granted leave to represent Stines until his next court appearance, a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 1, where all evidence will be presented, but afterward Stines may need to hire his own attorney.
Stines remains jailed without bail following his arraignment, CNN reported.
Mullins, who served as judge for 15 years, died at the scene and Stines surrendered without incident.
The motive for the shooting is currently still under investigation, Kentucky State Police said last week that the two briefly argued in the judge’s courtroom before the sheriff shot him multiple times, they reported. The New York Times.
County Circuit Court Clerk Mike Watts also saw the two having lunch together hours earlier. Watts said he had worked alongside both men for years at the courthouse and “thought they were all friends,” according to the outlet.
Mullins’ former brother-in-law, Matt Butler, who is also a Letcher County prosecutor, shared a video remembering him.
He said: ‘My children lost their uncle. My beautiful nieces lost their father.’
Butler also said the courthouse where the shooting occurred is “one of the last you can enter without a metal detector or security at the front door” and said this is “unacceptable in 2024.”
“My children lost their uncle. My beautiful nieces lost their father,” said his former brother-in-law Matt Butler.
The virtual arraignment was held with Stines appearing remotely from the Leslie County Detention Center. He made no comment on the charges during the hearing and prosecutors did not present any evidence.
Patty Wood, the widow of District Judge Jim Wood and Mullins’ predecessor, said KCRA:I know Mickey’s character and I know that something had to have done that. You can’t find a better person on the face of the earth than Mickey Stines. I don’t know what happened.
After taking Mullin aside for a private conversation, Stines allegedly locked the door, pulled out the cell phones and handed them to each of them before the father of two pulled out his gun and shot Mullins repeatedly.
Earlier this month, Stines was questioned as part of an ongoing case involving a former officer accused of sexually abusing a former inmate.
The suit accuses Stines of “deliberate indifference in failing to adequately train and supervise” his former deputy. Stines denied any wrongdoing after he also fired the deputy in question, the New York Times reported.
The outlet said Gov. Andy Beshear wants the sheriff to resign by Friday.
