Latest news with #KevinMullins
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Experts suggest jury is unlikely to believe Kentucky sheriff's insanity defense in fatal shooting of judge
Former prosecutors claim the Kentucky sheriff who shot a local judge dead in his chambers last year faces an uphill battle with his insanity defense. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines gunned down Judge Kevin Mullins inside the county courthouse on September 19. Exactly why Stines killed his close friend soon after they had lunch together remains a mystery, with only vague explanations from his lawyers so far. The shooting and the moments leading up to it were caught on film. Stines' lawyers plan to present an insanity defense if the case goes to trial, claiming two weeks of intense stress drove him to murder. Defense attorney Jeremy Bartley claimed Stines irrationally feared for the lives of his family after being questioned at a deposition for a sexual assault lawsuit. The sheriff told officers seconds after the shooting, 'They're trying to kidnap my wife and kid,' and expressed fear he would be murdered on the way to jail. But two former prosecutors believe a jury is unlikely to believe he was insane as he appeared to know right from wrong when he pulled the trigger. Georgia legal expert Phil Holloway pointed to Kentucky State Police bodycam footage of Stines being arrested minutes after the shooting. Stines was terrified of being transported to the Leslie County Jail, an hour's drive away, and begged to be locked up in the one next door instead. 'I leave this building, I won't draw another breath,' he told them while handcuffed, with his leg nervously shaking. Stines said he was worried the transport would stop along the way, and someone else would get in the car and kill him. Holloway said Stines' fear that he would be killed, however paranoid or delusional, showed he knew that murder was wrong. 'If they know right from wrong, they can still be convicted even if they have a mental health issue,' Holloway told Fox News. 'He knows that killing is wrong because he's asking the police to not kill him.' Michael Wynne, a former prosecutor in Houston, said the CCTV footage of the moments leading up to the shooting was even more damning. He said: 'The video shows he knows what he's doing is wrong. If you don't know what you're doing is wrong, you don't usher everybody else out of the room, and you don't go ahead and make sure the door is closed. 'Those are all things that show that he has an ability to make cognizant decisions.' Wynne said Stines risked a harsher sentence by trying an insanity defense, as the judge and jury could 'punish' him for pursuing it. Bartley issued a legal filing saying his client's state of mind at the time of the shooting would be key to his upcoming trial. He said the case would hinge on testimony that Stines gave at a deposition for a lawsuit by Sabrina Adkins days before the September 2024 shooting. Stines in that interview answered questions about one of his deputies allegedly sexually assaulting jail inmates. An accuser in that case claimed that she was forced by a deputy sheriff to have sex in Mullins' chambers for six months in exchange for staying out of jail. Bartley claimed Stines was concerned about backlash from his deposition testimony, which caused him to fear that his or his family's lives were in danger. The attorney claimed Stines' 'mental health' was affected by the perceived threat. He wrote: 'Ultimately, he was in fear for the safety of his wife and his daughter, and I think what you see there is the result of that.' Footage from just before the shooting showed Stines express concern about his family, and call his daughter from the judge's phone. Adkins accused Judge Mullins of inappropriate behavior, claiming she had witnessed him engaging in sexual acts with women in exchange for special treatment. This lawsuit, filed in January 2022, claimed Mullins was involved in a sex-for-favors scheme within his chambers. Adkins also alleged former deputy Ben Fields was involved and filmed illicit encounters, some of which reportedly involved Mullins. Stines, a close friend of Mullins for about 30 years, was mentioned in the legal proceedings just three days before the shooting. Bartley said: 'I think the deposition has several important roles in this case... it's going to be a large portion of the story we tell.'
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Bad news for Kentucky sheriff who shot judge friend dead in his chambers
Former prosecutors claim the Kentucky sheriff who shot a local judge dead in his chambers last year faces an uphill battle with his insanity defense. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines gunned down Judge Kevin Mullins inside the county courthouse on September 19. Exactly why Stines killed his close friend soon after they had lunch together remains a mystery, with only vague explanations from his lawyers so far. The shooting and the moments leading up to it were caught on film. Stines' lawyers plan to present an insanity defense if the case goes to trial, claiming two weeks of intense stress drove him to murder. Defense attorney Jeremy Bartley claimed Stines irrationally feared for the lives of his family after being questioned at a deposition for a sexual assault lawsuit. The sheriff told officers seconds after the shooting, 'They're trying to kidnap my wife and kid,' and expressed fear he would be murdered on the way to jail. But two former prosecutors believe a jury is unlikely to believe he was insane as he appeared to know right from wrong when he pulled the trigger. Georgia legal expert Phil Holloway pointed to Kentucky State Police bodycam footage of Stines being arrested minutes after the shooting. Stines was terrified of being transported to the Leslie County Jail, an hour's drive away, and begged to be locked up in the one next door instead. 'I leave this building, I won't draw another breath,' he told them while handcuffed, his leg nervously shaking. Stines said he was worried the transport would stop along the way, and someone else would get in the car and kill him. Holloway said Stines' fear that he would be killed, however paranoid or delusional, showed he knew that murder was wrong. 'If they know right from wrong, they can still be convicted even if they have a mental health issue,' he told Fox News. 'He knows that killing is wrong because he's asking the police to not kill him.' Michael Wynne, a former prosecutor in Houston, said the CCTV footage of the moments leading up to the shooting was even more damning. 'The video shows he knows what he's doing is wrong. If you don't know what you're doing is wrong, you don't usher everybody else out of the room, and you don't go ahead and make sure the door is closed,' he said. 'Those are all things that show that he has an ability to make cognizant decisions.' Wynne said Stines risked a harsher sentence by trying an insanity defense, as the judge and jury could 'punish' him for pursuing it. Bartley issued a legal filing saying his client's state of mind at the time of the shooting would be key to his upcoming trial. He said the case would hinge on testimony that Stines gave at a deposition for a lawsuit by Sabrina Adkins days before the September 2024 shooting. Stines in that interview answered questions about one of his deputies allegedly sexually assaulting jail inmates. An accuser in that case claimed that she was forced by a deputy sheriff to have sex in Mullins' chambers for six months in exchange for staying out of jail. Bartley claimed Stines was concerned about backlash from his deposition testimony, which caused him to fear that his or his family's lives were in danger. Stines had been a close friend to Mullins for around 30 years and the pair had been seen dining together at a local restaurant for lunch just hours before the shooting The attorney claimed Stines' 'mental health' was affected by the perceived threat. 'Ultimately, he was in fear for the safety of his wife and his daughter, and I think what you see there is the result of that,' he wrote. Footage from just before the shooting showed Stines express concern about his family, and call his daughter from the judge's phone. Adkins accused Judge Mullins of inappropriate behavior, claiming she had witnessed him engaging in sexual acts with women in exchange for special treatment. This lawsuit, filed in January 2022, claimed Mullins was involved in a sex-for-favors scheme within his chambers. Adkins also alleged former deputy Ben Fields was involved and filmed illicit encounters, some of which reportedly involved Mullins. Stines, a close friend of Mullins for about 30 years, was mentioned in the legal proceedings just three days before the shooting. 'I think the deposition has several important roles in this case... it's going to be a large portion of the story we tell,' Bartley said.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Disturbing new bodycam reveals Kentucky sheriff's outburst moments after he shot judge best friend dead in his chambers
A sheriff who shot the local judge dead in his chambers was paranoid he was going to be murdered on the way to jail minutes later. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines gunned down Judge Kevin Mullins inside the county courthouse on September 19. Exactly why Stines killed his close friend soon after they had lunch together is a mystery, with only vague explanations from his lawyers so far. The shooting and the moments leading up to it, before Stines drew his gun and Mullins tried to hide behind his desk, were caught on film. Kentucky State Police arrested Stines minutes later and their attempts to interview him in the courthouse hallway were filmed on bodycam. But the troopers didn't have any success as they spent the whole time trying to reassure a paranoid Stines that they weren't going to kill him. 'I leave this building, I won't draw another breath,' he told them while handcuffed, his leg nervously shaking. Stines was terrified of being transported to the Leslie County Jail, an hour's drive away, and begged to be locked up in the one next door instead. The troopers spent the whole time trying to reassure a paranoid Stines that they weren't going to kill him KSP Investigator Clayton Stamper reminded him that wasn't possible, as he had to be taken out of the county due to his position as sheriff. 'I'll never make it to the Leslie County Jail. Put me in the Leslie County Jail, I'll get killed there. I'll get killed in any jail,' Stines pleaded. Stamper, confused about why Stines was in fear of his life, asked why he thought the troopers planned to kill him. 'Mickey, why do you think we're going to do something to you? Why would we wanna hurt you?' he said. 'Look, I know that this is obviously a very crappy situation, but I assure you we have no intentions of harming you whatsoever.' Stines said he was worried the transport would stop along the way, and someone else would get in the car and kill him. 'Come on, be fair to me now. I seen the look… Y'all come on now, don't kill me. Don't punish me, you know. Let's be fair. Don't shoot me, nothing like that, he said. Stines eventually settled down, but became more paranoid when the troopers tried to question him about the shooting. 'Y'all are gonna kill me, I know you are. Let's just get it over with. Let's just go,' he said. Stamper eventually convinced Stines to go to the Leslie County Jail by agreeing to let Trooper Jason Bates, a former Letcher County deputy Stines knew well, be the one to drive him there. Stines still appeared fearful and jumpy as he was led to the police car, peering around corners and scanning for potential threats everywhere. Troopers tried to question Stines during the drive, but he stayed quiet. Stines' lawyers plan to present an insanity defense if the case goes to trial, claiming two weeks of intense stress drove him to murder. Footage from just before the shooting showed Stines express concern about his family, and call his daughter from the judge's phone. He also told officers seconds after the shooting: 'They're trying to kidnap my wife and kid.' Defense attorney Jeremy Bartley issued a legal filing saying his client's state of mind at the time of the shooting would be key to his upcoming trial. He said the case will hinge on testimony that Stines gave at a deposition for a lawsuit by Sabrina Adkins days before the September 2024 shooting. Stines in that interview answered questions about one of his deputies allegedly sexually assaulting jail inmates. An accuser in that case claimed that she was forced by a deputy sheriff to have sex in Mullins' chambers for six months in exchange for staying out of jail. Bartley claimed Stines was concerned about backlash from his deposition testimony, which caused him to fear that his or his family's lives were in danger. The attorney claimed Stines' 'mental health' was affected by the perceived threat. 'Ultimately, he was in fear for the safety of his wife and his daughter, and I think what you see there is the result of that,' he wrote. Adkins accused Judge Mullins of inappropriate behavior, claiming she had witnessed him engaging in sexual acts with women in exchange for special treatment. This lawsuit, filed in January 2022, claimed Mullins was involved in a sex-for-favors scheme within his chambers. Adkins also alleged former deputy Ben Fields was involved, having filmed illicit encounters, some of which reportedly involved Mullins. Stines, a close friend of Mullins for about 30 years, was mentioned in the legal proceedings just three days before the shooting. 'I think the deposition has several important roles in this case... it's going to be a large portion of the story we tell,' Bartley said.
Fox News
12-05-2025
- Fox News
'Extremely paranoid' Kentucky sheriff questioned by police moments after judge's fatal shooting: video
FIRST ON FOX: Bodycam footage of former Letcher County, Kentucky Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines obtained by Fox News Digital shows the Kentucky State Police (KSP) questioning Stines just minutes after he allegedly shot and killed District Judge Kevin Mullins in his chambers. In the police interview, taken in the hallway of the Letcher County Courthouse, where the shooting occurred, a "paranoid" Stines continually insisted that police or someone else was about to kill him, a belief which his defense attorney told Fox News Digital was a contributing factor in the shooting on Sept. 19, 2024. The former sheriff, wearing jeans and polo shirt emblazoned with his title on it, was handcuffed and seated on a chair while being questioned. Throughout the interview, his legs shook and he appeared to scan his environment for potential threats. He answered few questions about what happened that day, as most of the interview was spent trying to quell his fears. During the police questioning, Stines asked to be jailed in Letcher County, mere steps away from the courthouse, rather than risk being transported to another facility. "I leave this building, I won't draw another breath," he told KSP Investigator Clayton Stamper, who led the investigation. When informed that jailing him in Letcher County would violate protocol, a fact that officers noted he should understand given his position as sheriff of the county, Stines was told that he would be taken to the Leslie County Jail, about an hour away. "I'll never make it to the Leslie County Jail," he told police. "Put me in the Leslie County Jail, I'll get killed there. I'll get killed in any jail." Police continually reassured Stines that nobody was going to hurt him, but those reassurances fell on deaf ears. "Mickey, why do you think we're going to do something to you?" Stamper asked. "Why would we wanna hurt you?" "Well, somebody on the way [to the Leslie County Jail], if y'all stop and let somebody on the way," Stines said. "Look, I know that this is obviously a very crappy situation, but I assure you we have no intentions of harming you whatsoever," Stamper said. To assuage his fears, police agreed to allow KSP Trooper Jason Bates, a former Letcher County deputy whom Stines has known for years, drive him to Leslie County. Bates also joined in the interview in an attempt to calm Stines. Stines, however, still couldn't shake his fears. "Come on, be fair to me now," he said to Stamper. "I seen the look… Y'all come on now, don't kill me. Don't punish me, you know. Let's be fair. Don't shoot me, nothing like that." When police were finally able to settle Stines down enough to ask him what led to the shooting, Stines refused to answer. "Y'all are gonna kill me, aren't you?" he replied before again asking about the transportation to Leslie County. "Y'all are gonna kill me, I know you are," he said. "Let's just get it over with. Let's just go." The questioning culminated in a dramatic exit of the courthouse into the jail's sally port, during which Stines peered through windows and down stairwells, apparently looking for potential threats. "Come on guys, be fair with me now," he said on multiple occasions. A quiet hour-long drive to the Leslie County Jail followed, with the officers asking intermittently if Stines wanted to discuss what happened. According to Stines' attorney Jeremy Bartley, fear of blowback against his family stemming from his testimony in a civil lawsuit against a former Letcher County Sheriff's deputy drove him to the brink. "Specifically, in the approximate two-week period prior to the incident in the judge's chambers, pretty much all the witnesses the investigators talked to support what those close to Mickey had said as well," Bartley told Fox News Digital last week. "And that's simply this: Mickey had become extremely paranoid. He'd become sleepless, basically wasn't sleeping. [He] slept little, if at all. He had sort of become withdrawn. And you know, it was of such a concern that his co-workers urged him to go to the doctor, and he ultimately did the day prior to the shooting." "On the day that this [shooting] happened, my client had attempted multiple times to contact his wife and daughter, and he firmly believed that they were in danger," Bartley said. "He believed that they were in danger because of what he knew to have happened within the courthouse. And there was pressure, and there were threats made to him to sort of keep him in line, to keep them from saying more than these folks wanted him to say." Bartley is planning an insanity defense. Stines had been deposed just days prior in the explosive lawsuit, which was fraught with accusations of sexual abuse in the Letcher County Courthouse, specifically in Mullins' chambers, just three days prior to allegedly killing the judge. Stines was named as a defendant in the civil case, but only insofar as he allegedly failed to properly supervise the deputy who is the primary target of the suit. The attorney for the plaintiff in that case, Ned Pillersdorf, lobbed accusations about the culture of the courthouse in an interview with Fox News Digital last week. "Just my general concern as a criminal defense lawyer … they were running a brothel out of that courthouse," Pillersdorf said. "I mean, the pimping – at least three women we know of, though I think it's higher." Pillersdorf conducted the deposition with Stines three days before the shooting, and also noted that Stines was acting oddly. Bartley did not return a request for comment Friday. Prosecuting attorney Jackie Steele has not returned multiple comment requests. "The sheriff is obviously suffering mental impairment, though it is unclear exactly what his diagnosis or combination of diagnoses is," Dr. Carole Lieberman told Fox News Digital, adding that sleep deprivation could be an aggravating factor to a mental illness. Lieberman, a psychiatrist and mental health practioner who has been an expert witness in cases ranging from attempted homicide and domestic violence to celebrity divorce proceedings, said that Stines' most obvious symptom of mental illness is his paranoia. "Regardless of how many times they tried to reassure him that they were going to keep him safe, he would not let go of this delusion that their intentions were to kill him," she said. She described Stines as "panicky" during his interaction with law enforcement, and noted that the shuffling in his chair was an attempt to comfort himself. "The sheriff is in obvious discomfort, with his protruding abdomen taking over his presence, and rocking back and forth in the chair – which is self-soothing behavior," she said. "He is constantly grimacing, reflecting his physical and emotional pain." Another condition that could have contributed to Stines' behavior is called Brief Reactive Psychosis, and could have resulted from his deposition in the civil lawsuit three days earlier, according to Lieberman. She said that such a condition could have occurred "as a reaction to his having given a stressful deposition in a 'sextortion' case and being sued civilly himself, then suddenly realizing that his coworkers in law enforcement and the courthouse could turn against him if his testimony implicates them in criminal behavior." "He seems to feel pressure from threats (real or imagined) to keep him from saying too much," she said.
Fox News
08-05-2025
- Fox News
Kentucky courthouse where sheriff allegedly killed judge plagued by sex abuse allegations: lawsuit
Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Please enter a valid email address. Having trouble? Click here. In September 2024, authorities said former Letcher County, Kentucky Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines unexpectedly shot District Judge Kevin Mullins, who he had known for decades, in Mullins' chambers. The shooting, which was caught on surveillance footage, rocked the small eastern Kentucky town of Whitesburg and has subsequently captivated the true crime world. The events that led to the shooting, according to Stines' attorney, began years earlier with a civil lawsuit against a former Letcher County Sheriff's deputy for allegedly raping a female defendant who was out on bond. That lawsuit also named Stines as a defendant. MOTIVE REVEALED IN KENTUCKY SHERIFF'S ALLEGED KILLING OF JUDGE AS BODY LANGUAGE EXPERT ANALYZES NEW VIDEO The following is a full timeline of events that provide context for the shooting: Jan. 31, 2022: Woman files civil sexual abuse suit A woman named Sabrina Adkins filed a civil lawsuit against former Letcher County Sheriff's Deputy Ben Fields, claiming that he had exploited her for sexual favors when she was on home incarceration. According to the suit, Adkins was struggling to find housing and to pay for her GPS ankle monitor when Fields told her he was sure they could "work something out." She alleged that Fields coerced her into sexual activity six times inside Mullins' chambers in return for taking off her ankle monitor while she was on home incarceration, and dropped the fee associated with the ankle monitor. When she stopped providing the sexual favors, she was arrested, according to the lawsuit. Stines, who was Fields' supervisor, was named as a defendant in that lawsuit, which claimed that he failed to adequately train and supervise Fields. Her attorney in the civil suit, which is ongoing, is Ned Pillersdorf. He said that on one occasion, Fields directed Adkins to provide sexual favors to a third party, and that there were other women who Fields similarly abused. "Just my general concern as a criminal defense lawyer … they were running a brothel out of that courthouse," Pillersdorf told Fox News Digital. "I mean, the pimping – at least three women we know of, though I think it's higher." "[Fields] pimped Adkins out to this other guy," he said. "He pimped her out to some connection Fields had, this guy." "If you're a woman caught up in an ankle bracelet or a drug court, you know, a simple phone call to the judge, you might be in jail," he said. "So they're so easy to extort, these women think they won't be believed." After the allegations were made, a camera was mounted on the wall of Mullins' chambers. Sept. 29, 2022: Former Letcher County Sheriff's deputy indicted Months after the civil suit was filed, Fields was indicted on two counts of third-degree rape, two counts of third-degree sodomy, three counts of tampering with a prisoner monitoring device and one count of second-degree perjury in relation to the Adkins case. Adkins said in a deposition with Investigator Matthew Easter in the criminal case that sex in exchange for favorable treatment in the criminal justice system in Letcher County was common, and that many other women had faced the same exploitation. SIGN UP TO GET THE TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER Jan. 4, 2024: Fields is sentenced to prison in the rape case Fields pleaded guilty to all charges in his criminal case, and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Sept. 16, 2024: Stines is deposed in Adkins' civil lawsuit Months after Fields had reported to jail, Stines was deposed in Adkins' civil suit. According to Stines' attorney, Jeremy Bartley, in the several days before the deposition, Stines had become extremely paranoid, sleepless, and worried about the safety of his family. "This civil suit had drawn a lot of attention to things that were happening in the courthouse," Bartley said. "And in fact, if you look at it, it was because of this lawsuit – the reason that there had been a camera placed in the judge's chambers, which is highly unusual, highly unusual to have such concern that the administrative office of courts puts a security camera in a judge's chambers." Alleged threats against his family drove Stines over the edge, Bartley said. KENTUCKY SHERIFF SEEN IN FOOTAGE SHOOTING AT JUDGE IN SHOCKING PRELIMINARY HEARING "On the day that this [shooting] happened, my client had attempted multiple times to contact his wife and daughter, and he firmly believed that they were in danger," Bartley said. "He believed that they were in danger because of what he knew to have happened within the courthouse. And there was pressure, and there were threats made to him to sort of keep him in line, to keep them from saying more than these folks wanted him to say." Sept. 19, 2024, midday: Stines, Mullins and friends have lunch In the middle of the day, Stines and Mullins, along with coworkers from the courthouse, ate lunch together at StreetSide Bar & Grill, which was within walking distance of the courthouse. According to video obtained by Fox News Digital, people who were in the courthouse when the shots rang out were interviewed by the Kentucky State Police just after the shooting, and described Stines as acting oddly before and during lunch. "This morning, Mickey came over [to the courthouse] … he just seemed a little off," said one witness. "But he was just like, walking back and forth, all around." "He was acting strange at lunch," another witness said, noting that part of the lunch conversation was about Stines' potential reelection as sheriff. "I don't know if this matters, but I'm going to tell you anyways because it's odd to me," the witness told a detective. "He leaned back in his chair at lunch, and they were talking about reelection. He said, 'Oh I'll never make it to the next election.'" Sept. 19, 2024, afternoon: Stines and friend deliver food In the hours just before the shooting, Stines and his friend Michael Clark, who works for a drug rehabilitation company that partners with the county, took a drive to deliver food to a handicapped person who could not leave the house, according to Bartley. "In the period of time after my client left lunch with the folks from the courthouse, he and another person by the name of Michael Clark went to purchase materials," Bartley said. "They went out and picked up lunch and other food stuff for a food box that they were delivering to a person who was sick or had some limitations that they weren't able to get the food that they needed. And so they left. They went shopping for those items." He explained that this was routine for Stines, and that normally, the person to whom Stines delivered the food was home when he arrived. That day, he wasn't, which fueled more paranoia. "When they went to deliver these items … the family of the gentleman indicated that he was at another location," he said. "This caused a lot of concern from my client. So they dropped the food box with the family, and then they left and went back to the courthouse." Clark spoke with Fox News Digital earlier this week about the delivery incident. "He was paranoid all day," Clark said. "So we went to a place to deliver the food, and it was at a different house or a different location than he thought [it] should have been," Clark said. "I didn't even really know where we were going. I just went with him because, you know, we participated in that and helped with it. And, you know, just kind of, I guess it might have made it worse. I don't know, whatever he was struggling with that day." Sept. 19, 2024, later afternoon: Mullins shot in chambers FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X In the surveillance video taken from Mullins' chambers, a group of people could be seen cordially chatting with the judge for more than 12 minutes before Stines walked into the office and asked everyone to leave. In the next seven minutes, Stines and Mullins talked privately before Stines stood up and seemingly locked the door of the chambers. Mullins then handed his phone over to Stines. After looking through the judge's phone, Stines placed a call to his daughter from the judge's phone that went unanswered before tossing the phone back onto the judge's desk. Stines can be seen in the video typing in his daughter's number while he looks at his own phone for reference of the number. Stines' daughter did not appear to be saved in Mullins' contacts. He then allegedly stood up, unholstered his pistol, and moved menacingly toward Mullins before opening fire at point-blank range, killing the judge. Sept. 19, 2024, night: Kentucky State Police hold news conference After conducting witness interviews at the scene, the Kentucky State Police held a news conference describing the events of the day. "Preliminary investigation indicated that Sheriff Mickey Shawn Stines fired at District Court Judge Kevin Mullins following an argument inside the courthouse," a trooper told reporters. GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB He added that Stines was taken into custody without incident, and was cooperative with law enforcement, which is corroborated by video obtained by Fox News Digital. Nov. 21, 2024: Grand jury indicts Stines NEW VIDEO SHOWS KENTUCKY SHERIFF POINTING GUN AT JUDGE BEFORE ALLEGED FATAL SHOOTING In November, a grand jury indicted Stines. The one-sentence indictment charges Stines with murder. "On or about the 19th of September, 2024, in Letcher County, Kentucky, the above named defendant committed the offense of murder when he unlawfully shot Letcher County District Court Judge Kevin Mullins, thereby causing his death; against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Kentucky," according to the indictment. Since the indictment: Since Stines was indicted, Bartley, his defense attorney, has made several motions on his behalf. Most notably, Bartley filed a motion telling the court he is planning an insanity defense, and that he "intends to present a defense of insanity, as well as a defense of extreme emotional disturbance." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The filing says that he also "intends to present expert evidence relating to a mental disease or defect or mental condition bearing on the issue of guilt and punishment." Prosecuting attorney Jackie Steele did not return a comment request.
