The Kentucky sheriff accused of fatally capturing a choose in his chambers final week might face the demise penalty if convicted, in response to a particular choose appointed to preside over the case.
Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, 43, made his first court docket look Wednesday, the place he pleaded not responsible to first-degree homicide fees.
Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines is charged with homicide within the deadly capturing of a choose.
Leslie County Detention Heart
On Thursday, Stines allegedly killed Kentucky District Choose Kevin Mullins, 54, inside his chambers within the Letcher County Courthouse, officers mentioned. The capturing allegedly occurred “following an argument contained in the courthouse,” in response to Kentucky State Police, and investigators are nonetheless trying to find a motive.
The 2 had had lunch collectively the day of the capturing, Letcher County Circuit Clerk Mike Watts instructed Lexington ABC affiliate WTVQ on Saturday.
Stines didn’t seem to point out emotion in the course of the temporary listening to on Wednesday, the place he appeared over Zoom carrying a jail uniform alongside his public defender, who entered the not responsible plea on Stines’ behalf.
He’s anticipated again in court docket on Oct. 1.
Choose Kevin Mullins
Letcher County Authorities
Mullins was discovered with a number of gunshot wounds after a 911 caller reported photographs being fired contained in the courthouse, and Stines was taken into custody with out incident on the courthouse, police mentioned.
Officers haven’t but decided if Stines used his “responsibility” weapon within the capturing.
On Monday, simply days earlier than the capturing, Stines was deposed in a lawsuit, which alleged he had failed to analyze one in all his deputies who sexually abused a lady in Mullins’ chambers.
On Friday, Whitesburg Mayor Tiffany Craft instructed WTVQ that the neighborhood had been “rocked to its core” by the incident.
“You’d by no means dream that something like that is ever going to occur in your small city,” she mentioned, noting Mullins and Stines had been seen as “two nice pillars of the neighborhood.”
Letcher County Courthouse in in Whitesburg, Ky.
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Watts instructed the station he had identified each males for many years.
“Each males have been my pals, and work household, and I noticed them virtually every day whereas we have been at work,” Watts mentioned.
