Mickey Stines: Murder case against former Kentucky sheriff accused of killing judge to go to court today

CNN
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The last time he was in a courthouse, he shot and killed a judge, according to investigators. On Tuesday, a former Kentucky sheriff will travel to another courthouse to hear the evidence against him.

Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, 43, is scheduled to attend his preliminary hearing in person Tuesday afternoon, according to court officials. He appeared remotely from the Leslie County Detention Center at an arraignment last week.

Prosecutors will explain why they believe Stines shot and killed Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, in his own chambers last month, right across the street from the sheriff’s office.

The hearing is expected to provide the public with a first glimpse of a possible motive for the killing. After the hearing, a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence to send the case to a grand jury.

Stines pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder at his arraignment. Neither he nor investigators gave details of the allegations against him during the hearing.

Since then, residents of Whitesburg — a community of 1,773 people — have been waiting for details about why investigators believe Stines and Mullins — who were described as friends who had lunch together the day of the murder — ended up in an argument that left the judge dead.

Tuesday’s hearing will be held in West Liberty, Ky., nearly 100 miles from the Letcher County courthouse where Mullins was killed.

The state appointed a special judge to preside over the case since Mullins would normally preside over preliminary hearings for crimes allegedly committed in Letcher County.

The hearing comes a day after Stines officially resigned as sheriff, according to a letter from his attorneys obtained by CNN affiliate WKYT.

Last week, Gov. Andy Beshear said he would begin the process of forcing Stines from office if he did not resign.

“The decision is not made as a result of an ultimatum or in any way as a concession to allegations made by the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” attorneys Jeremy Bartley and Kerri Bartley said in the letter to the attorney. general of the governor.

“To the contrary, Sheriff Stines made this decision to allow his successor to continue to protect his beloved constituents as he navigates the legal process that awaits him.”

Judge Rupert Wilhoit informed Stines during his preliminary hearing that he could face the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder.