LETCHER COUNTY, Ky. — Letcher County Sherriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines will be arraigned on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 11 a.m. in Letcher District Court. Stines is charged with the murder of District Court Judge Kevin Mullins.


What You Need To Know

  • Letcher County Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines will be arraigned on Sept. 25 at 11 a.m.

  • Stines is charged with first-degree murder for shooting Letcher District Court Judge Kevin Mulls on Sept. 19

  • Stines will appear via ZOOM because the judge assigned to his case is in Carter County, two hours from Letcher Coumty

  • The judge in the case is Rupert Wilhoit III

Chief Regional District Judge Rupert Wilhoit III is assigned to the case. Stines will appear via ZOOM because Wilhoit is in Carter County, which is over two hours away from Letcher County.

Kentucky State Police confirmed Stines, 43, shot and killed Mullins at the Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg Thursday, Sept. 19. According to KSP, first responders found Mullins with multiple gunshots wound, and the Letcher County Coroner’s Office pronounced him dead on the scene.

KSP said just before 3 p.m., Post 13, Hazard, received a 911 call “in reference to shots being fired from inside the building.” First responders found Mullins with multiple gunshot wounds, and the Letcher County Coroner’s Office pronounced him dead on the scene. 

Stines was taken into custody after the incident, KSP said, and has been charged with one count of first-degree murder. KSP added the investigation remains ongoing. Newspaper the Mountain Eagle reports he surrendered to police after the shooting.

Mullins, 54, was hit multiple times in the shooting, KSP said. He had served as a district judge in Letcher County since he was appointed by former Gov. Steve Beshear in 2009 and elected the following year.

Stines, of McRoberts, was elected sheriff in 2018 and reelected in 2022. Besides the murder charge, Stines is accused in a federal lawsuit of failing to investigate allegations that one of his deputies repeatedly sexually abused a woman inside Mullins’ chambers.

Chris Hughes - Digital Producer

Chris Hughes is a digital producer for Spectrum News 1 Kentucky. He has had an extensive career as a freelance journalist and joined Spectrum in 2022.

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