A sheriff in rural Kentucky has been charged with first-degree murder after he allegedly shot and killed a district judge in a courthouse dispute. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43, is accused of shooting Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, multiple times following an argument in the courthouse chambers. The incident took place in Whitesburg, the county seat known for its tight-knit community.
The Kentucky State Police indicated that the shooting stemmed from an argument, but the specific details leading up to the gunfire remain under investigation. Judge Mullins, who had been serving for 15 years, died at the scene, and Stines surrendered without further incident.
Stines has been under scrutiny following a federal lawsuit that accused him of negligence regarding allegations that one of his deputies sexually abused a woman in Mullins’ chambers. This lawsuit was filed by two women, one accusing a former deputy, Ben Fields, of coercing her into sexual acts in exchange for leniency regarding her legal issues. Fields pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including rape, resulting in a sentence of six months in jail followed by six and a half years of probation.
The sheriff terminated Fields’ employment for “conduct unbecoming,” shortly after the lawsuit was initiated in 2022.
The shocking murder has caused a significant stir in the 1,700-resident town, prompting the Letcher County judge-executive to close the courthouse as a precaution. To avoid potential local conflicts, Stines was booked into a detention center in a different county.
Local prosecutor Matt Butler has recused himself from the case due to personal connections with the victim, while Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman stated that his office would work with a commonwealth’s attorney in the area to ensure a comprehensive investigation. Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Laurance B. VanMeter expressed his dismay at the incident and emphasized the need for justice.
Governor Andy Beshear also reacted to the shooting, highlighting the troubling prevalence of violence and expressing hope for a peaceful resolution moving forward. Judge Mullins had been appointed to his position by former Governor Steve Beshear in 2009 and subsequently elected the following year.