Kentucky sheriff who shot dead judge in courthouse remains emotionless as he pleads not guilty

The Kentucky sheriff, who fatally shot a judge in his chambers, remained stone faced as he pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. 

Sheriff Shawn Mickey Stines appeared in court for the first time after allegedly marching into the Letcher County Courthouse in Kentucky and fatally shooting Judge Kevin Mullins last Thursday. 

The virtual arraignment was held with Stines appearing remotely from Leslie County Detention Center. He made no comment on the charges during the hearing and prosecutors presented no evidence.

Judge Kevin Mullins, who held his judgeship for 15 years, was fatally shot multiple times and died on the scene 

Sheriff Shawn Mickey Stines appeared in a virtual arraignment for the first time since the fatal shooting of Judge Mullins last Thursday

Stines was also questioned on his financial status by Chief Regional District Judge Ruper Wilhoit, after he requested a court-appointed judge. 

Public defender, Josh Miller, said: Sir, it’s my understanding that he is in the process of losing his job as sheriff of Letcher County, obviously, and will not have income going forward, reported CNN. 

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Miller was granted allowance to represent Stines through his next court appearance, a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 1 where any evidence will be presented, but afterwards Stines may need to hire his own attorney. 

Stines remains jailed without bond after the arraignment, reported CNN.  

Mullins, who held the judgeship for 15 years, died at the scene and Stines surrendered without incident. 

Currently the motive for the shooting is still under investigation, The Kentucky State Police said last week that the two argued briefly in the judges chambers before the sheriff shot him multiple times, reported The New York Times. 

The countys circuit court clerk, Mike Watts, saw the two also head to lunch together hours beforehand. Watts said he had worked alongside both men for years in the courthouse, and thought they were all friends according to the outlet. 

The former brother-in-law of Mullins, Matt Butler who is also a commonwealth attorney for Letcher County, shared a video remembering him. 

He said: [My children] lost their uncle. My beautiful nieces have lost their father.

Butler also said that the courthouse where the shooting took place is one of the last that you can walk into 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 have lost their father, said former brother-in-law Matt Butler

The virtual arraignment was held with Stines appearing remotely from Leslie County Detention Center, he made no comment on the charges during the hearing and prosecutors presented no evidence

Patty Wood, the widow of District Judge Jim Wood and Mullins predecessor, told KCRA: I know Mickey’s character. And I know there had to be something that did it. You couldn’t find a better person on the face of the earth than Mickey Stines. I don’t know what happened.

After pulling Mullins aside for a private conversation, Stines reportedly locked the door, cell phones were pulled out and handed to each other before the father-of-two drew his weapon and shot Mullins repeatedly. 

Earlier this month Stines was deposed as part of an ongoing case involving a former deputy accused of sexually abusing a former inmate. 

The lawsuit 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, reported the New York Times. 

The outlet stated that Gov. Andy Beshear wants the sheriff to resign by Friday.