LETCHER COUNTY, Ky. (Court TV) — A former sheriff accused of shooting and killing a Kentucky judge in his chambers appeared in court on Friday, asking a judge to dismiss the indictment and allow him out of jail on bond.
Shawn “Mickey” Stines is charged with murder in the shooting death of Letcher County District Court Judge Kevin Mullins. At the time of the shooting, Stines was the sheriff of Letcher County.
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(L) District Judge Kevin Mullins (Kentucky Court of Justice), (R) Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines. (Letcher County’s Official Website via Scripps News Lexington)
At Friday’s status hearing, Stines’ defense team asked the judge to dismiss the indictment against him, citing improper testimony about his mental state that may have influenced the grand jury’s decision. Stines’ attorney argued the grand jury would not have indicted his client had they not been told he was sane at the time.
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Prosecutors strongly opposed the motion to dismiss, arguing that proper procedures were followed during the grand jury process.
The judge announced plans to review the grand jury recordings before making a decision on the motion to dismiss.
Stines’ defense also requested bond, proposing a $50,000 cash bond with property as collateral. They argued that Stines poses no flight risk and has strong community ties. They pointed to his wife and daughter as a strong support system, and emphasized that Stines has a “great respect for the law.” Prosecutors said that under Kentucky law, bond is typically prohibited in capital cases.
The judge has given attorneys 10 days to submit additional case law and scheduled the next hearing for September 2.
This story was reported by Tiffany Smith and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
