Latest news with #Stines
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Kentucky ex-sheriff's 'frivolous' insanity claim won't fly in judge's suspected murder: former prosecutors
Two former prosecutors say that the insanity defense planned by the defense attorney representing former Letcher County, Kentucky, Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines will not hold up. Stines is accused of shooting and killing District Judge Kevin Mullins in the judge's chambers inside the Letcher County Courthouse on Sept. 19, 2024, in an attack that was captured on surveillance video. "It's very rare in most states, including Kentucky, the insanity defense and similar mental health defenses rarely work, because if the person knows right from wrong at the time they committed some criminal act, then any mental health issues are, I guess, secondary," Phil Holloway, a former prosecutor and legal analyst based in Georgia, told Fox News Digital. "If they know right from wrong, they can still be convicted even if they have a mental health issue." 'Extremely Paranoid' Kentucky Sheriff Questioned By Police Moments After Judge's Fatal Shooting: Video Last week, Fox News Digital released video footage of a Kentucky State Police (KSP) investigator and two troopers questioning a paranoid Stines in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. "I leave this building, I won't draw another breath," Stines told KSP Investigator Clayton Stamper, who led the investigation. Read On The Fox News App "Y'all are gonna kill me, aren't you?" he asked at one point in the interview. "Y'all are gonna kill me, I know you are. Let's just get it over with. Let's just go." Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X Holloway said even if the sheriff was paranoid, he still knew that the killing was wrong. "If you look at the sheriff's video from his discussions with law enforcement in the hallway right after the shooting, the sheriff expresses that he's concerned that the police or some other unnamed third party might hurt him or kill him," Holloway said. Kentucky Sheriff Seen In Footage Shooting At Judge In Shocking Preliminary Hearing "And he's asking the cops, you know, he's even alleging that the police might stop en route to the jail to allow somebody else to do something. Now, those things might seem paranoid, and they may seem irrational, but at the same time, when he expresses those things to the officers, to me that indicates that he knows that killing is wrong. "It's interesting because he's telling the cop, he's telling the police not to do it. So, in a way, he's telegraphing that he knows right from wrong. And he knows that killing is wrong because he's asking the police to not kill him." Sign Up To Get The True Crime Newsletter Michael Wynne, a former prosecutor based in Houston, agrees with Holloway, especially given the surveillance footage from Mullins' chambers in the moments leading up to the shooting. "I think this is a frivolous defense," he told Fox News Digital. "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." Kentucky Courthouse Where Sheriff Allegedly Killed Judge Plagued By Sex Abuse Allegations: Lawsuit Wynne said he believes the best Stines will be able to do is plead guilty to the charges in hopes of taking the death penalty off the table, or potentially being given an opportunity for parole. "Based on the facts, he will lose the case [and] there will be a guilty verdict," Wynne said. "Now, the jury and judge are not supposed to weigh the fact that the defense puts on a case here of insanity. But people are people. And, you know, he'll be punished by the judge and the jury for raising what I think this is a frivolous defense." According to Stines' attorney, Jeremy Bartley, his defense is closely tied to allegations of sexual abuse that plagued Letcher County authorities, including some in the courthouse. Three days before the shooting, Stines was deposed in a civil sexual assault case against his former deputy, Ben Shields, who was accused of sexually abusing a woman. Stines was also named for failing to supervise Fields. Motive Revealed In Kentucky Sheriff's Alleged Killing Of Judge As Body Language Expert Analyzes New Video Bartley declined to comment for this story but previously told Fox News Digital, "I think one of the big things is that my client felt there had been pressure placed on him not to say too much during the deposition, and not to talk about things that happened within the courthouse, particularly in the judge's chambers." Bartley said that threats against Stines' family caused the paranoia to reach a fever pitch. "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."Original article source: Kentucky ex-sheriff's 'frivolous' insanity claim won't fly in judge's suspected murder: former prosecutors
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
'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. Kentucky Sheriff Seen In Footage Shooting At Judge In Shocking Preliminary Hearing 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. Read On The Fox News App "I leave this building, I won't draw another breath," he told KSP Investigator Clayton Stamper, who led the investigation. Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X 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. Sign Up To Get The True Crime Newsletter "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 article source: 'Extremely paranoid' Kentucky sheriff questioned by police moments after judge's fatal shooting: video
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Stunning new video reveals what happened just before judge was shot dead by sheriff best friend
Shocking new surveillance footage captured the moments that led a Kentucky sheriff to shoot his longtime friend and local judge Kevin Mullins in his chambers. The alleged murder unfolded September 19, 2024, when Letcher County Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines was seen in the footage entering Mullins' office as he sat with several others. Stines and Mullins had been out for lunch together and several of the people in Mullins' office shortly before the shooting, and the sheriff appears to order the others out of the room at the start of the footage. The video, first shared by Fox News, showed Stines confronting Mullins as soon as he enters the room, sitting across from him at the desk and bringing up something on his phone. At one point, Mullins handed his phone across the desk to Stines, before the sheriff takes the phone and attempts to make a call that does not appear to have been answered. Stines briefly looked through the phone before tossing it back on the desk, with Mullins still appearing to try and calmly talk the sheriff down from a rage. The footage then showed Stines stand up and lift his shirt to reveal his gun holstered on his hip, which caused the judge to then take notice and lift his hands up. Prosecutors have charged Stines with first-degree murder, however his attorneys indicated they are preparing to mount an insanity defense in his upcoming trial. The footage offers the clearest look yet at the shocking shooting last year that stunned the small town of Whitesburg, Kentucky, where the two men played important roles in the community. They were known as longtime friends who often ate lunch together, including on the day Mullins was killed. Their familiarity was evident in the footage from inside Mullins' chambers, as the judge sat smoking a cigarette with his legs crossed as Stines grilled him. Although the footage was released without sound, body language expert Susan Constantine told Fox News that it was clear the sheriff 'was ready to go the minute he walked in.' By contrast, Mullins 'is very nonchalant, very carefree', she said, as he sat smoking a cigarette and did not appear to understand the imminent danger he was in. 'The sheriff then leans in, he's obviously got something on his mind because he's in an action stance,' Constantine said. 'I think the fact that [Mullins] is shrugging it off, I think that created more angst towards the judge because he wasn't taking it seriously, whatever was being spoken about, and he's kind of playing it off like it wasn't a big deal... And the more he played it out, 'this is not a big deal,' the more angry Stines became.' 'The judge is kind of going, 'what are you doing?' Put the gun down,' Constantine said. 'Using his hand gestures, kind of flinging him out, like, 'what are you doing?' This doesn't make any sense.' In a sudden move, the judge then puts his hands up by his head, in an apparent reaction to something the sheriff said. The footage ends as Stines allegedly shot Mullins dead as he sat at his desk. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, however Stines' attorneys indicated in court filings in March that they intend to launch an insanity defense. 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 days before the September 2024 shooting. That saw the sheriff answer 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 said Stines feared that backlash from his deposition testimony caused him to fear that his or his family's lives were in danger. The attorney said 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,' the defense attorney said. Stines' attorney Jeremy Bartlet dismissed rumors that the shooting had anything to do with any relationship between Mullins and his daughter, but said the sheriff was increasingly 'paranoid' about the safety of his family In an interview with Fox News this week, Bartley added that although Stines tried to call his daughter from Mullins' phone, their phone exchange had nothing to do with any relationship between the judge and the sheriff's daughter. He added that Stines received a call from his aunt during his interaction with Mullins in his chambers, which was one of the times he brought out his phone. As he denied rumors of any kind of relationship between Mullins and Stines' daughter, Bartley said his client was experiencing increasing paranoia over the safety of his family at the time, particularly due to the deposition he had just given. '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 said. '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 become sort of 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.'
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-Kentucky sheriff charged in judge's killing may get evaluated for insanity defense
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Prosecutors have requested a mental evaluation for a former Kentucky sheriff charged with gunning down a judge in a courthouse last year after his attorneys said they will argue he was emotionally disturbed at the time of the shooting. The killing rocked the small Appalachian community of Whitesburg, where residents knew Shawn 'Mickey' Stines to be longtime friends with District Judge Kevin Mullins. Prosecutors have presented a video in court of a man police identified as Stines pulling out a handgun and shooting Mullins at his desk on Sept. 19. Prosecutors with the state attorney general's office filed a motion Monday asking the court to allow a state doctor to evaluate Stines' claim 'that he suffers, or has suffered, from a mental disease or defect or any other mental condition that bears on the issues of guilt and punishment.' See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Investigators have not announced a motive for the shooting. Earlier that day, the two men had met for lunch with several other people near the courthouse, police said. Attorneys for Stines wrote in a motion earlier this month that they plan to present evidence that the ex-lawman suffered from insanity and 'extreme emotional disturbance' at the time he allegedly shot Mullins. Stines' attorneys said they would not raise the issue of whether Stines is mentally fit to stand trial. 'While further evaluation is needed to determine the extent of the mental health evidence ultimately presented, it is our strong belief that our client was operating under extreme pressure that significantly impacted his mental state,' Stines' attorney Kerri Bartley said in an emailed statement. Stines remains jailed without bond. At a January hearing, special judge Chris Cohron said he would take up the issue of Stines' bond at a later hearing. He has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder of a public official and resigned days after the shooting.
The Independent
12-03-2025
- The Independent
Ex-Kentucky sheriff charged in judge's killing may get evaluated for insanity defense
Prosecutors have requested a mental evaluation for a former Kentucky sheriff charged with gunning down a judge in a courthouse last year after his attorneys said they will argue he was emotionally disturbed at the time of the shooting. The killing rocked the small Appalachian community of Whitesburg, where residents knew Shawn 'Mickey' Stines to be longtime friends with District Judge Kevin Mullins. Prosecutors have presented a video in court of a man police identified as Stines pulling out a handgun and shooting Mullins at his desk on Sept. 19. Prosecutors with the state attorney general's office filed a motion Monday asking the court to allow a state doctor to evaluate Stines' claim 'that he suffers, or has suffered, from a mental disease or defect or any other mental condition that bears on the issues of guilt and punishment.' Investigators have not announced a motive for the shooting. Earlier that day, the two men had met for lunch with several other people near the courthouse, police said. Attorneys for Stines wrote in a motion earlier this month that they plan to present evidence that the ex-lawman suffered from insanity and 'extreme emotional disturbance' at the time he allegedly shot Mullins. Stines' attorneys said they would not raise the issue of whether Stines is mentally fit to stand trial. 'While further evaluation is needed to determine the extent of the mental health evidence ultimately presented, it is our strong belief that our client was operating under extreme pressure that significantly impacted his mental state,' Stines' attorney Kerri Bartley said in an emailed statement. Stines remains jailed without bond. At a January hearing, special judge Chris Cohron said he would take up the issue of Stines' bond at a later hearing. He has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder of a public official and resigned days after the shooting.
