FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – A former Kentucky sheriff was indicted Thursday in killing of a judge who was gunned down in his courtroom two months in the past, surprising a small Appalachian group.
Shawn “Mickey” Stines was indicted for homicide of a public official by a Letcher County grand jury, prosecutors mentioned. Stines was sheriff of the southeastern Kentucky county when authorities say he walked into District Judge Kevin Mullins’ workplace in Whitesburg, spoke to the decide after which opened hearth on Sept. 19.
Mullins, 54, who served as decide for 15 years, died on the scene and Stines surrendered with out incident. Stines pleaded not responsible to homicide and was held in one other Kentucky county jail.
Stine, 43 years previous, he resigned as sheriff greater than per week after the taking pictures and his substitute, Billy Jones, was sworn in on October 1. Jones was a former useful resource officer at a highschool in Letcher County.
Prosecutors had no remark after the indictment was returned Thursday in Letcher County. Stines’ attorneys didn’t instantly reply to a cellphone name and e mail in search of remark.
Police gave no motive for the taking pictures involving two distinguished members of the county bordering Virginia. Whitesburg is situated 140 miles southeast of Lexington, Kentucky.
Viewing the video the gunned down decide was utilized in a court docket listening to final month. The video, with out sound, confirmed a person recognized by police as Stines pulling out a gun and taking pictures the decide as he sat at his desk. The man walked across the desk, pointed the gun on the decide – who had fallen to the ground – and shot once more. Some individuals within the courtroom gallery sobbed because the video performed.
Mullins died of a number of gunshot wounds, a Kentucky State Police detective mentioned on the listening to.
The detective testified that Stines tried to name his daughter on Mullins’ cellphone and on his personal cellphone shortly earlier than the taking pictures. Investigators discovered no weapons on Mullins or in his rooms, the detective mentioned.
On the day of the taking pictures, Mullins and Stines met for lunch with a number of different individuals at a restaurant close to the courthouse, the detective mentioned through the listening to.
Stines’ protection crew mentioned they left the listening to with extra questions than solutions and mentioned they had been conducting their very own “parallel investigation.”
Stines might face the demise penalty on the homicide cost.
