A rural Kentucky sheriff who shot dead a judge in his own courtroom has been pictured in his mugshot.
Lechter County Sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines, 43, is accused in the shooting death of District Court Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, at the local courthouse in Whitesburg on Thursday.
Stines allegedly shot judge Mullins multiple times in his office following a short argument.
Mullins, who held the judgeship for 15 years, died at the scene, and Stines surrendered without incident. He is charged with first degree murder.
Police have not released a motive for the shooting.
Lechter County Sheriff Mickey Stines, 43, is accused in the shooting death of District Court Judge Kevin Mullins
Stines allegedly shot judge Mullins in his office following a short argument
The fatal shooting sent shock waves through a tight-knit Appalachian town and county seat of government with about 1,700 residents located about 145 miles southeast of Lexington.
Lead county prosecutor Matt Butler described an outpouring of sympathy as he recused himself and his office from investigations in the shooting, citing social and family ties to Mullins.
‘We all know each other here. … Anyone from Letcher County would tell you that Judge Mullins and I married sisters and that we have children who are first cousins but act like siblings,’ Butler said in statement from his office.
‘For that reason, among others, I have already taken steps to recuse myself and my entire office.’
Letcher County’s judge-executive signed an order closing on Friday the county courthouse where the shooting took place.
Mullins was appointed to serve as a judge in the state’s 47th district under former Governor Steve Beshear in 2009.
Letcher County’s judge-executive signed an order closing on Friday the county courthouse where the shooting took place
Stines was elected sheriff in 2018 and reelected in 2022
He oversaw juvenile matters, city and county ordinances, misdemeanors, traffic offenses, arraignments, felony probable cause hearings, claims involving $2,500 or less, civil cases involving $5,000 or less, voluntary and involuntary mental commitments and domestic violence cases, according to a Letcher County website.
Mullins also gained recognition for his efforts to treat those with drug addiction rather than incarcerate them, starting a program in 2010 that allowed inmates with substance abuse disorders to enroll in inpatient treatment as a condition of pretrial release.
He was previously an assistant commonwealth attorney for nine and a half years, focusing on drug-related offenses.
Stines, meanwhile, was elected sheriff in 2018 and reelected in 2022.