The defense team representing a Kentucky sheriff who allegedly shot a judge in his chambers last year says they are reviewing ‘voluminous’ amounts of evidence.
Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines was jailed after the murder of Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, on September 19. Stines was indicted by a grand jury on one count of murder of a public official, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The 44-year-old former sheriff’s defense attorney, Jeremy Bartley, said in a remote court hearing on Friday that the defense is reviewing ‘voluminous’ amounts of potential evidence provided by prosecutors.
Prosecutors may take another four to six months to amass all potential evidence and complete any testing of it, according to prosecutor Jackie Steele.
‘We still have some things coming in and things being tested,’ Steele said.
Stines, who appeared remotely from jail for Friday’s video conference, showed no emotion as he sat behind his lawyers while his upcoming murder trial was discussed.
Stines’ attorneys also indicated that they plan to ask that bond be set at another hearing, which is yet to scheduled.
Circuit Court Judge Christopher Cohron, who was appointed last month as special judge in the case, said he would be ‘glad to address bond’ then.
Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines, 44, appeared remotely from jail on Friday as he and his lawyers prepare for his upcoming murder trial. Defense attorney Jeremy Bartley said that the defense is reviewing ‘voluminous’ amounts of potential evidence provided by prosecutors
Stines was jailed after the murder of Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins on September 19
Stines’ attorneys also indicated that they plan to ask that bond be set at another hearing, which is yet to scheduled
Bartley said the matter of Stines’ bond release had been in limbo until Cohron’s appointment to the case.
Stines, who was sheriff at the time, has been accused of fatally shooting Judge Mullins, who died at the scene.
The incident had been caught on camera in a video showing a man, identified as Stines by authorities, pulling out a gun and shooting Mullins as he sat at his desk.
The man then walked around the desk and fired the gun again at Mullins who had fallen to the floor.
Stines allegedly entered the courthouse and told others he needed to speak with Mullins alone. Once in the chambers, the two began arguing and Mullins was shot several times, according to authorities.
He was said to have surrendered to law enforcement and is being held in a different Kentucky County Jail.
Stines stepped down from his position as sheriff shortly after the incident.
Just days prior to the shooting, Stines had been deposed in a separate federal lawsuit filed by Sabrina Adkins, who claimed that Deputy Sheriff Ben Fields was using his position to pressure women to have sex in exchange for favorable treatment.
Stines, who was sheriff at the time, has been accused of fatally shooting Judge Mullins (pictured), who died at the scene
Judge Mullins was accused of inappropriate behavior amid claims he was seen performing sexual acts with women in exchange for special treatment
Stines had been a close friend to Mullins for around 30 years and the pair had even been seen dining together at a local restaurant for lunch just hours before the shooting
Judge Mullins was also accused by Adkins of inappropriate behavior.
Adkins also alleged that Fields filmed illicit encounters, some of which she claimed involved Mullins.
The disgraced sheriff was also mentioned in the legal proceedings just three days before the shooting.
Bartley referenced this case as a potential factor in Stines’ actions, he 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.’
Stines had been a close friend to Mullins for around 30 years, and the pair had even been seen dining together at a local restaurant for lunch just hours before the shooting.
The alleged judge shooter could face the death penalty if convicted.
There has been no mention of any specific evidence and police have given no official motive for the shooting.
