A Kentucky courtroom on Tuesday saw footage of a county sheriff gunning down a judge in his chambers earlier this month during a hearing to determine if enough evidence exists to send the case to a grand jury.
Only about a minute of the video of the September 19 incident was shown, the Lexington. Herald-Examiner reported. In that portion, then-Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines is seen standing at the desk of District Judge Kevin Mullins, who is seated. Stines pointed his gun at the judge, who raised his hands before Stines shot him.
Mullins fell to the floor and struggled to get up, but Stines shot him several more times, including once just before exiting the chambers.
Stines surrendered to officers outside Mullins chambers, as CrimeOnline reported.
In court on Tuesday, Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper testified that the full video shows Stines making phone calls on his own phone and then asking for Mullins phone and making a call from the judge’s phone as well, according to the Louisville Courier Journal. The shooting happened seconds after that call.
Stamper said the calls were to Stines’ juvenile daughter. A forensics lab is testing both phones currently, the detectives said, and Stines’ daughter’s number was saved in Mullins’ phone. The daughter’s phone has not been examined, Stamper said, but she has spoken with investigators.
Stamper said that while witnesses are still being interviewed, the investigation so far as revealed that Stines and Mullins had lunch a few hours before the shooting, along with other people. One of the witnesses said that Mullins asked the sheriff at one point if they should meet in his private chambers, but the circumstances around that comment are not clear.
Stamper said the sheriff was “mostly calm” during his arrest and asked state police to “treat me fair.” Asked by Stines’ attorney if he made any comments about “protecting his family” when he was arrested, Stamper said he allegedly commented that “They’re trying to kidnap my wife and kid.”
Stines announced on Monday that he was “retiring” as sheriff effective immediately, and his attorney said it had nothing to do with a letter from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear last week asking him to resign. Stines served as a bailiff in Mullins’ court for several years before being elected sheriff in 2018 and reelected in 2022.
Mullins was appointed to his seat in 2009 by then-Gov. Steve Beshear, the current governor’s father, and was elected to the post the following year.
Judge Rupert Wilhoit III ruled at the close of the hearing there was probable cause to send the case to a grand jury. Stines, who has entered a not guilty plea, is being held without bond in Leslie County.
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[Featured image: Mickey Stines/Letcher County Sheriff’s Office and Kevin D. Mullins/47th Judicial District]
