Kentucky Sheriff Fatally Shoots Judge After Heated Argument
Kentucky Sheriff Fatally Shoots Judge After Heated Argument
Authorities are investigating why a Kentucky sheriff allegedly shot and killed a district judge following an argument inside the judge’s chambers. The tragic incident unfolded at the Letcher County courthouse in Whitesburg, Kentucky, leaving District Judge Kevin Mullins dead and the small community in shock.
According to Kentucky State Police, Trooper Matt Gayheart, the deadly confrontation occurred around 3 p.m. on Thursday when Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43, reportedly shot Judge Mullins, 54, after a heated exchange. The preliminary investigation revealed that the sheriff, who was responsible for the judge’s personal security, turned himself in immediately after the shooting and was arrested without incident.
Stines now faces a first-degree murder charge, and authorities are still trying to determine the motive behind the fatal shooting. “This community is small in nature, and we’re all shook,” Gayheart said during a press conference on Thursday evening.
The Argument in the Judge’s Chambers
State police have confirmed that the shooting followed an argument between Stines and Mullins, but details about the confrontation remain unclear. “We know that it was an argument between the two that led up – but what exactly transpired prior to the shots being fired, those are still things that we’re trying to get answers to,” Gayheart explained.
While other people were in the courthouse when the shooting took place, no one else was inside Mullins’ chambers, and no additional injuries were reported. Authorities reassured the public that there is no ongoing threat.
Investigators are examining security camera footage from inside the building and plan to interview all witnesses who were present at the courthouse. Meanwhile, Mullins’ body has been sent to the medical examiner’s office in Frankfort for further examination.
Stines’ Legal Troubles Before the Shooting
The shooting occurred just days after Stines was deposed in an ongoing federal lawsuit involving a former deputy who allegedly coerced a woman into having sex in Mullins’ chambers in 2021. The lawsuit, filed by Sabrina Adkins and Jennifer Hill, accuses deputy Ben Fields of using his position to solicit sexual favors from women under his supervision, in exchange for keeping them out of jail.
The lawsuit claims that Adkins had sex with Fields in Mullins’ chambers on several occasions and that Hill was harassed by the deputy when she refused his advances. Fields, who faced multiple criminal charges, was eventually given a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to lesser charges.
Adkins and Hill sued both Fields and Stines, alleging that the sheriff failed to adequately investigate the sexual misconduct allegations. Stines fired Fields in 2022 following the lawsuit, citing “conduct unbecoming.”
Sheriff Faces First-Degree Murder Charge
Following his arrest, Stines is cooperating with investigators, according to Gayheart. The sheriff had held his position for nearly eight years, and it remains unclear who will take over his duties in Letcher County. His first court appearance is scheduled for September 25, where he will appear remotely before a judge in Carter County, roughly 100 miles from the scene of the crime.
Stines is currently being held in the Leslie County jail, located more than 40 miles from the Letcher County courthouse, and officials have not confirmed whether he will remain there or be transferred before his hearing.
Remembering Judge Mullins
Judge Kevin Mullins had been serving as a district judge for Kentucky’s 47th District Court since 2009, when he was appointed by then-Governor Steve Beshear. He was re-elected multiple times, most recently in 2022. Before becoming a judge, Mullins worked as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Letcher County, where he focused primarily on drug-related offenses.
Mullins was well known for his efforts to promote substance abuse treatment within the justice system. He helped establish a program called Addiction Recovery Care, which offered peer support services in the courthouse and was adopted in more than 50 counties across Kentucky.
In a statement, Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Laurance B. VanMeter expressed his shock at the news of Mullins’ death. “My prayers are with his family and the Letcher County community as they try to process and mourn this tragic loss,” VanMeter said.
The community has been left reeling from the tragedy. Matt Butler, the commonwealth’s attorney for Letcher County, recused himself from prosecuting the case due to his close ties to both Mullins and Stines. Butler, whose wife is the sister of Mullins’ wife, described the men as individuals he had “worked with for seventeen years and loved like brothers.”
A Community in Mourning
As the investigation continues, Letcher County is grappling with the aftermath of this devastating event. Circuit and district courts, along with the circuit court clerk’s office, will remain closed until further notice, and a retired judge will temporarily oversee district court cases until a permanent replacement for Mullins is appointed.
In a social media post, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear acknowledged the growing violence in the state, noting that this incident occurred less than two weeks after a mass shooting on an interstate in Laurel County and just three days after a deputy was killed in the line of duty in Russell County. “There is far too much violence in this world, and I pray there is a path to a better tomorrow,” Beshear said.
As the legal and law enforcement community in Kentucky comes to terms with the tragic loss of Judge Mullins, investigators remain committed to uncovering the truth behind the argument that led to his untimely death.
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