Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines recently pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder charge in connection with the fatal shooting of Judge Kevin Mullins in his chambers after an argument. Stines appeared virtually from the Leslie County jail, where he has been held since the shooting at the Letcher County Courthouse. A motive for the shooting remains unclear. Three days before the incident, Stines was deposed in connection with a federal lawsuit that accused one of his deputies of sexual abuse. The lawsuit alleged that the courthouse had become a place where vulnerable women were targeted for “sexual extortion,” and Stines was accused of failing to adequately train and supervise his deputies.
After the shooting, cameras were installed in Mullins’ chambers and courtroom, which raised questions about a possible connection to the lawsuit. The shooting shocked the small community, with Matt Butler, the commonwealth’s attorney for Letcher County and Mullins’ brother-in-law, calling it an “unspeakable tragedy.” The community was described as devastated by the loss of Judge Mullins, who was remembered as a witty and fun person to be around.
Due to personal relationships and potential conflicts of interest, Matt Butler recused himself and his office from the case. The case will now be handled by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman and the commonwealth’s attorney for the 27th Judicial Circuit, Jackie Steele. The circumstances surrounding the shooting and its connection to the lawsuit continue to be investigated by authorities.
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