Ex-sheriff charged in murder of judge pleads not guilty in the same Kentucky courthouse where the fatal shooting occurred

A former Kentucky Sheriff accused of murdering a district judge pleaded not guilty in his chambers two months ago to one count of murder of a government official.

Monday’s arraignment marked the first time defendant Shawn “Mickey” Stines, 43, has been in the Letcher County courthouse since District Judge Kevin Mullins was shot to death in his chambers there.

Stines, handcuffed and dressed in a baggy dark gray prison uniform, did not speak or show any emotion during the hearing. The plea was entered on his behalf by his attorney, Kerri Bartley.

Stines, who was sheriff when the alleged crime occurred, has since resigned. His replacement, Billy Joneswas in court Monday but did not speak during the proceedings.

The indictmenthanded over by a grand jury on Thursday, sheds no new light on a possible motive for the shooting.

Stines could be confronted the death penalty if convicted.

Stines’ preliminary hearing was held more than 100 miles from Letcher County last month because the courthouse was temporarily closed after Mullins’ murder. Due to the close community ties of both the suspect and the victim, the case is being handled by a special prosecutor and a state-appointed retired judge.

“The defendant will not be admitted to bond at this time,” Judge Julia H. Adams said.

Authorities responded to the Letcher County Courthouse on the afternoon of September 19 and discovered that Mullins, 54, had suffered gunshot wounds, Kentucky State Police said at the time. Stines surrendered to authorities at the scene.

During last month’s hearing, prosecutors played surveillance footage from Mullins’ chambers, which showed the judge sitting at his desk as a man identified as Stines shot him multiple times. As Stines prepares to leave the room, he appears to see Mullins moving under his desk and fires several more shots.

Defense attorneys did not deny that Stines shot Mullins, but suggested he was in the midst of an “extreme emotional disturbance,” arguing that a manslaughter charge would be more appropriate than murder.

Surveillance video not shown in court showed the former sheriff calling his daughter on his phone before asking to see Mullins’ phone, which the judge gave him, Kentucky State Police Det. Clayton Stamper testified at last month’s hearing.

The full video shows Stines opening fire seconds after looking at the judge’s phone, Stamper testified, noting that Stines had tried to call his daughter from both phones. According to Stamper, telephone records show that the judge’s telephone had previously called Stines’ daughter.

Both men had lunch with a group before the shooting, Stamper said. And while no witnesses observed any anger between them, witnesses told investigators about one exchange:

“I was told that the judge made a statement to Mickey about, ‘Should we meet privately in my room?’” Stamper said.

CNN’s Dakin Andone contributed to this story.

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