In September 2024, former Letcher County, Kentucky Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines unexpectedly shot District Judge Kevin Mullins in Mullins’ chambers. The shooting, captured on surveillance footage, shocked the town of Whitesburg and gained attention in the true crime world. The incident stemmed from a civil lawsuit filed years earlier against a former sheriff’s deputy for allegedly exploiting a female defendant. The lawsuit also implicated Stines. Sabrina Adkins accused Deputy Ben Fields of coercing her into sexual favors in exchange for removing her ankle monitor while on home incarceration. When she stopped complying, she was arrested. Stines, as Fields’ supervisor, was named in the lawsuit for failing to properly oversee him. The lawsuit, ongoing with attorney Ned Pillersdorf, revealed a pattern of abuse by Fields towards multiple women. After the allegations, a camera was installed in Mullins’ chambers. Fields was later indicted on various charges related to the case and sentenced to seven years in prison. Stines, deposed in the civil suit after Fields’ imprisonment, was involved in the events leading up to the shooting.
Bartley stated that the civil suit had attracted significant attention to the courthouse proceedings. He emphasized the unusual act of installing a security camera in the judge’s chambers as a result of the lawsuit, indicating heightened concerns for safety. Alleged threats against Stines’ family exacerbated his paranoia and anxiety.
The incident involving a Kentucky sheriff shooting at a judge during a preliminary hearing was described as a culmination of Stines’ distress. Bartley highlighted Stines’ persistent attempts to contact his family, driven by a belief that they were in danger due to events within the courthouse. Pressure and threats to control his actions intensified this fear.
On the day of the shooting, Stines and colleagues had lunch at StreetSide Bar & Grill near the courthouse. Witnesses noted Stines’ unusual behavior, including remarks about his potential reelection as sheriff. Concerns grew as Stines and a friend, Michael Clark, delivered food to a sick individual, only to find the person absent, heightening Stines’ paranoia.
The routine food delivery turned unsettling when the intended recipient was not at the expected location. This fueled Stines’ paranoia, leading to increased tension throughout the day. Clark confirmed Stines’ heightened state of anxiety and paranoia, culminating in the tragic events that unfolded later that day.
We were unsure of where we were going. I simply followed him because we were both involved in the situation and offered our assistance. I suppose our presence could have worsened things, though I am uncertain of what he was struggling with that day.
Join The Fox True Crime Team for Real-Time Updates
A surveillance video captured a group of individuals engaging in friendly conversation with the judge for over 12 minutes in Mullins’ chambers. Eventually, Stines entered the office and requested everyone to vacate the premises. The subsequent seven minutes saw Stines and Mullins engage in a private discussion before Stines stood up, appearing to lock the door. Mullins then handed his phone to Stines, who proceeded to make an unanswered call to his daughter using the judge’s phone before returning it to the desk. Stines can be observed in the footage entering his daughter’s number on the judge’s phone while referencing his own device. Notably, Stines’ daughter was not listed in Mullins’ contacts. Subsequently, Stines reportedly rose, drew his gun, and advanced menacingly towards Mullins, ultimately shooting him at close range, resulting in the judge’s tragic demise.
Following witness interviews on the scene, the Kentucky State Police held a press conference detailing the incident. A trooper informed the media that preliminary investigations suggested that Sheriff Mickey Shawn Stines shot District Court Judge Kevin Mullins subsequent to a dispute inside the courthouse. Stines was peacefully apprehended and cooperated with authorities, substantiated by video evidence from Fox News Digital.
At his arraignment in the Morgan County Courthouse in West Liberty, Kentucky, former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines wiped his eyes as he listened to testimonies related to the shooting death of District Judge Kevin Mullins on October 1, 2024. Stines was subsequently indicted by a grand jury in November on a charge of murder.
The indictment alleges that Stines unlawfully shot and killed Judge Kevin Mullins, thereby committing the offense of murder in Letcher County, Kentucky, on or about September 19, 2024. Post-indictment, Stines’ defense attorney Bartley filed motions, indicating an intent to pursue an insanity defense and present expert evidence concerning mental health conditions relevant to the case.
Prosecuting attorney Jackie Steele did not respond to requests for comment.
For the full article, visit the True Crime Hub.
