LETCHER COUNTY, Kentucky — Nearly a week after a fatal shooting in a Kentucky courthouse, the Letcher County sheriff pleaded not guilty to murder after fatally shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins inside his chamber.
According to Kentucky State Police, Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines got into an argument with Mullins prior to shooting the judge inside his chambers on Sept. 19.
On Wednesday, Stines appeared in court over Zoom from the Leslie County Detention Center. He was joined by Josh Miller, an attorney from the public defender's office, although the sheriff had yet to hire an attorney nor had he filed a request for a public defender to the court.
Chief Regional Judge Rupert Wilhoit, who was appointed to oversee this case, questioned if the sheriff could afford an attorney, and said he didn't believe Stines qualified for a public defender. The judge asked Stines about properties he owned and his salary.
Stines said he was making $115,000 a year as sheriff and had paid off most of his properties. However Stines said he doesn't believe he can find an attorney to represent him before the next court hearing.
"I hope so. It's kind of hard, you know, where I'm at, having to contact the people I need to," Stines told the judge.
Stines is being held in Leslie County, over an hour away from Letcher County.
Commonwealth's Attorney Jackie Steele said Stines remains Letcher County's sheriff, but Miller said he's in the process of losing that job.
"[He] will not have income going forward," the public defender said. "His family's not prepared for this eventuality. And again, I think the cost of defending one of these cases can reach well into several hundred thousand dollars."
Although Wilhoit said Stines doesn't qualify for a public defender, he allowed a public defender to be appointed to represent him temporarily.
"I'm going to appoint the public defender's office to represent you for the limited purpose of assisting you at your preliminary hearing," the judge said. "If and when this case does proceed to circuit court, the circuit court may require you to hire your own counsel."
The hearing lasted less than 10 minutes and no bond was set. Stines' next court hearing is Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. at the Morgan County Judicial Center in West Liberty, Kentucky.
Shooting leaves small-town shaken
Mullins, 54, who held the judgeship since 2009, was hit multiple times during the shooting and died at the scene. Stines, 43, surrendered without incident.
The fatal shooting in Whitesburg sent shock waves through the tight-knit Appalachian town and county seat of government with about 1,700 residents. Whitesburg is located about 145 miles southeast of Lexington.
The Letcher County courthouse remains closed and is still considered a crime scene.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Matt Butler, who was Mullins' brother-in-law, recused himself from the case. Attorney General Russell Coleman's office is trying the case.
On Sunday, the community gathered at Jenkins High School for Mullins’ funeral.
Those who knew Mullins and Stines called them friends and the county clerk even said both men were planning to have lunch hours before the fatal incident.
Police have not offered any details about a possible motive, and Stines’ arrest citation offered few additional details about the shooting.
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