Kentucky ex-sheriff’s lawyers seek dismissal in judge murder case
The attorneys representing former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn \”Mickey\” Stines, who is accused of murdering the county’s judge in his chambers, have filed a new motion to have their client’s indictment dismissed. The motion claims that the state failed to record a crucial meeting between state prosecutors and the grand jury, which eventually indicted Stines.
According to a court filing obtained by KAVE, Stines’ lawyers argue that the grand jury was not provided with key information known to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which was sought by the grand jurors but not disclosed. They claim that this lack of information deprived the grand jury of a complete picture of the case.
The motion also alleges that the grand jury was not informed about an ongoing civil lawsuit in which Stines is named as a defendant, which could provide important context for the shooting. Additionally, the attorneys claim that the testimony given by Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper, the lead investigator in the case, was unfairly prejudicial.
The shooting, which took place in the Letcher County Courthouse on September 19, 2024, shocked the small rural town. Stines allegedly shot District Judge Kevin Mullins in his own chambers, a space where both Stines and Mullins were well-known figures in the community for many years.
The incident occurred just three days after Stines was deposed in a civil case against his former deputy, Ben Fields, who is serving time for a separate crime. Stines allegedly felt pressure to keep quiet during the deposition and feared for the safety of his wife and daughter.
According to defense attorney Jeremy Bartley, Stines believed that his family was in danger due to events that had taken place within the courthouse. Body camera footage from the aftermath of the shooting shows Stines expressing paranoia and fear for his life while being questioned by police.
Bartley plans to mount an insanity defense for Stines, although experts have criticized this strategy as \”frivolous.\” The case has garnered significant attention, and both the defense team and the prosecution have been contacted for comment.
Peter D’Abrosca, who joined Fox News Digital in 2025 after working as a politics reporter, is closely following the developments in the case. Stay tuned for updates on this high-profile trial.
