WHITESBURG, Ky. — A small Appalachian community is in shock following a tragic shooting that left District Judge Kevin Mullins dead and Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines charged with his murder.
“This is heartbreaking. I just can’t believe it,” said Mike Watts, the Letcher County circuit court clerk, who expressed his personal connection to both men. “They were both my friends and I have worked with them for years.”
Preliminary reports from Kentucky State Police indicate that Sheriff Stines shot Judge Mullins multiple times during a dispute in the courthouse. The 54-year-old Mullins, who served as a judge for 15 years, was pronounced dead at the scene, while 43-year-old Stines surrendered to authorities and faces one count of first-degree murder.
The event has sent shockwaves through the close-knit town of Whitesburg, which has a population of around 1,700, located approximately 145 miles southeast of Lexington.
Watts recounted seeing both men together just hours before the shooting when he asked Mullins for a signature. The judge and sheriff were preparing to go to lunch together and their interaction seemed routine. However, Watts noted that Stines appeared quieter than usual. He could not have anticipated the ensuing violence.
Questions are now being raised about the events leading up to the shooting.
Stines had been deposed just days prior in a lawsuit related to allegations against a deputy, who was accused of coercing a woman into sexual acts inside Mullins’ chambers. This lawsuit alleges that the sheriff failed to adequately supervise the deputy involved.
The former deputy, Ben Fields, pleaded guilty to sexual charges and received a six-month jail sentence, followed by probation. Stines had previously terminated Fields for “conduct unbecoming” after the lawsuit emerged.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced that his office will oversee the criminal investigation, collaborating with a regional commonwealth’s attorney due to potential conflicts of interest within the local prosecutor’s office.
“We will conduct a thorough investigation and seek justice,” Coleman stated.
Chief Justice Laurance B. VanMeter of the Kentucky Supreme Court expressed his disbelief at the violent act, stating that the judiciary is “reeling” from this tragedy.
Local residents, like Jessica Slone, were taken aback by the news, noting their connections to both men. “I couldn’t believe it,” Slone shared, recalling the moment she learned of Mullins’ death.
Patty Wood, widow of Mullins’ predecessor, expressed her shock at Stines’ involvement, emphasizing the sheriff’s local ties and community service. “He was always a good person, and I can’t fathom what happened,” she said.
Letcher County’s judge-executive announced the temporary closure of the county courthouse in light of the incident.
The investigation continues as the community seeks answers regarding this shocking act of violence.
Judge Mullins had served as a district judge in Letcher County since his appointment in 2009 and was known for his commitment to justice and community service.
