FRANKFORT, Ky. — A Letcher County grand jury indicted former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines for murder of a public official Thursday, according to a release from the Office of Attorney General Russell Coleman, R-Ky. 

Stines, 43, is accused of shooting and killing Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins Sept. 19, stunning the tight-knit, Appalachian town of Whitesburg, which is near the Virginia border and has a population of about 1,700. A preliminary investigation indicated Stines shot Mullins multiple times following an argument inside the courthouse, according to Kentucky State Police.

Mullins, 54, who held the judgeship for 15 years, died at the scene, and Stines surrendered. If convicted, he could serve 20 years to life in prison. He could possibly face the death penalty since he's accused of killing a public official. 

Stines resigned Sept. 30 following calls to step down from Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., who had threatened to begin a removal process if he declined to do so.

Coleman's office said KSP investigated the case, and Commonwealth's Attorney Jackie Steele and Deputy Executive Director of the Attorney General's Special Prosecutions Unit Ramsey Dallam presented the case to the Letcher County Grand Jury on behalf of the Commonwealth. The arraignment is set for Monday, Nov. 25 at noon ET. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.