Former Letcher County, Kentucky Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines pleaded not responsible on Monday within the homicide of District Court docket Choose Kevin Mullins in the identical courthouse the place the lawman opened hearth upon the jurist in September.
Lawyer Jeremy Bartley mentioned Monday that Stines has a “compelling protection” lined as much as justify the capturing of his longtime colleague in his workplace, the Courier-Journal reported.
The timing of the sheriff’s deposition in a intercourse abuse-related lawsuit earlier that month is “definitely one thing that is going to be essential on this case,” Bartley added, in accordance with the newspaper.
“I do imagine that that may be a piece,” Bartley mentioned after Monday’s court docket proceedings, which lasted about 5 minutes. “This can be a giant story. It is a story that, in some methods, is troublesome to inform. We look ahead to sharing a extra full model of that as we undergo this judicial course of.”
SHERIFF ALLEGEDLY GUNS DOWN JUDGE IN HIS OWN CHAMBER IN EXECUTION CAUGHT ON VIDEO; INDICTMENT RETURNED
Shawn “Mickey” Stines throughout a preliminary listening to at Morgan County District Court docket on Oct. 1, 2024. (Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Photographs)
Prosecuting Lawyer Jackie Steele declined to remark when requested if he thought the deposition factored into the capturing, however mentioned that he doesn’t anticipate Stines to face any extra expenses past homicide of a public official. He instructed the outlet that it’s nonetheless too early to know whether or not he plans to pursue the demise penalty within the case.
The lawsuit in query was filed by two girls, one in every of whom alleged that Letcher County deputy Ben Fields compelled her to carry out sexual favors inside the identical decide’s chambers the place the capturing happened, the place there have been no cameras. The girl, who was on home arrest, accused the deputy of repeatedly sexually assaulting her for six months in alternate for staying out of jail.
Stines was accused within the swimsuit of “deliberate indifference in failing to adequately prepare and supervise” Fields, who was convicted on state expenses and spent a number of months in jail. That litigation is pending.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs in that case mentioned Stines’ deposition lasted a number of hours, and that they had been shocked by the capturing, in accordance with the Courier-Journal.
Ned Pillersdorf, one of many attorneys representing the plaintiff, instructed the outlet that he is heard various opinions on whether or not the deposition is related to the Sept. 19 capturing. His co-counsel took the deposition, he mentioned, and recalled that Stines had an “odd demeanor” all through.
KENTUCKY SHERIFF CHARGED IN JUDGE’S MURDER DID NOT PLAN KILLING, CAUGHT IN ‘HEAT OF PASSION’: LAWYER
Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines will be seen pointing his gun at District Court docket Choose Kevin Mullins. (Letcher County Handout)
Stines was denied bond on Monday. Bartley mentioned they deliberate to file a movement for adversarial bond, however instructed the outlet that it was “unlikely” to achieve success.
Retired Choose Julia H. Adams, who was appointed to function particular decide in Stines’ case, instructed the outlet that she determined to not grant the previous sheriff bond after “vital consideration,” citing the capital offense cost as a key consider her determination.
Protection legal professional Jeremy Bartley requested questions of KSP Detective Clayton Stamper at Shawn “Mickey” Stines preliminary listening to at Morgan County District Court docket. Oct. 1, 2024 (Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Photographs)
Stines pleaded not responsible on Sept. 25. He formally resigned as sheriff on the finish of September after receiving a letter from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Kentucky Common Counsel S. Travis Mayo urging him to take action. He’s being held two counties away at Leslie County Jail, police mentioned.
It’s nonetheless unclear what motivated the previous sheriff to pull the set off.
KENTUCKY SHERIFF CHARGED WITH FATALLY SHOOTING JUDGE DEPOSED IN RAPE-RELATED CASE DAYS EARLIER
District Choose Kevin Mullins, 54, was killed by Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43, in his decide’s chambers, authorities mentioned. (Kentucky Court docket of Justice ;Letcher County Sheriff’s Workplace)
Kentucky State Police Det. Clayton Stamper testified on the preliminary listening to that the 2 males had eaten lunch along with a bunch within the hours earlier than the capturing, the Courier-Journal reported.
In response to Stamper, Stines tried to name his daughter on his personal cellphone, then on Mullins’ cellphone.
“Our investigators seized the 2 cellphones, they usually’re being analyzed,” Kentucky State Police Trooper Matt Gayheart beforehand instructed the Day by day Mail.
“I used to be instructed that the decide made an announcement to Mickey about, ‘Do we have to meet non-public in my chambers?’” Stamper testified, The Related Press reported.
NEW VIDEO SHOWS KENTUCKY SHERIFF POINTING GUN AT JUDGE BEFORE ALLEGED FATAL SHOOTING
Former Letcher County Ky. Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines seems over on the prosecutors throughout his arraignment on the Morgan County Courthouse in West Liberty, Ky., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. Stines is accused of killing District Choose Kevin Mullins. (AP Picture/Timothy D. Easley)
“It may very well be, however I don’t know that for a truth,” Stamper mentioned when requested whether or not Stines was motivated to shoot Mullins primarily based on what he noticed on the decide’s cellphone.
“I talked to him, however he didn’t say nothing about why this had occurred,” Stamper mentioned, in accordance with the AP. “However he was calm… Mainly, all he mentioned was, ‘Deal with me truthful.’”
When Stines was taken into custody, he allegedly instructed one other officer, “they’re attempting to kidnap my spouse and child,” Stamper mentioned.
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Bartley beforehand instructed Folks that the capturing “was not one thing that was deliberate and occurred within the warmth of ardour.”
“For us, the best stage of culpability needs to be manslaughter primarily based on the partial protection of maximum emotional disturbance,” Bartley mentioned.
The capturing within the metropolis of Whitesburg has shaken the group of Letcher County, Kentucky, the place Stines served as a bailiff in Mullins’ court docket earlier than changing into sheriff in 2018.
“We’re all in a state of shock over it,” Garnard Kincer Jr., Mullins’ buddy and former mayor of Jenkins, instructed Folks. “It virtually immobilized us. We simply cannot imagine it occurred.”
