International Courant
Former Letcher County, Kentucky Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines pleaded not responsible on Monday within the homicide of District Courtroom Decide Kevin Mullins in the identical courthouse the place the lawman opened fireplace upon the jurist in September.
Legal professional Jeremy Bartley stated Monday that Stines has a “compelling protection” lined as much as justify the taking pictures of his longtime colleague in his workplace, the Courier-Journal reported.
The timing of the sheriff’s deposition in a intercourse abuse-related lawsuit earlier that month is “definitely one thing that is going to be essential on this case,” Bartley added, in response to the newspaper.
“I do imagine that that may be a piece,” Bartley stated after Monday’s court docket proceedings, which lasted about 5 minutes. “It is a massive story. It is a story that, in some methods, is troublesome to inform. We stay up for sharing a extra full model of that as we undergo this judicial course of.”
SHERIFF ALLEGEDLY GUNS DOWN JUDGE IN HIS OWN CHAMBER IN EXECUTION CAUGHT ON VIDEO; INDICTMENT RETURNED
Shawn “Mickey” Stines throughout a preliminary listening to at Morgan County District Courtroom on Oct. 1, 2024. (Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Pictures)
Prosecuting Legal professional Jackie Steele declined to remark when requested if he thought the deposition factored into the taking pictures, however stated that he doesn’t anticipate Stines to face any further fees past homicide of a public official. He advised the outlet that it’s nonetheless too early to know whether or not he plans to pursue the demise penalty within the case.
The lawsuit in query was filed by two girls, one in all whom alleged that Letcher County deputy Ben Fields compelled her to carry out sexual favors inside the identical decide’s chambers the place the taking pictures passed off, the place there have been no cameras. The girl, who was on home arrest, accused the deputy of repeatedly sexually assaulting her for six months in alternate for staying out of jail.
Stines was accused within the swimsuit of “deliberate indifference in failing to adequately prepare and supervise” Fields, who was convicted on state fees and spent a number of months in jail. That litigation is pending.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs in that case stated Stines’ deposition lasted a number of hours, and that they have been stunned by the taking pictures, in response to the Courier-Journal.
Ned Pillersdorf, one of many attorneys representing the plaintiff, advised the outlet that he is heard various opinions on whether or not the deposition is linked to the Sept. 19 taking pictures. His co-counsel took the deposition, he stated, and recalled that Stines had an “odd demeanor” all through.
KENTUCKY SHERIFF CHARGED IN JUDGE’S MURDER DID NOT PLAN KILLING, CAUGHT IN ‘HEAT OF PASSION’: LAWYER
Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines could be seen pointing his gun at District Courtroom Decide Kevin Mullins. (Letcher County Handout)
Stines was denied bond on Monday. Bartley stated they deliberate to file a movement for adversarial bond, however advised the outlet that it was “unlikely” to achieve success.
Retired Decide Julia H. Adams, who was appointed to function particular decide in Stines’ case, advised the outlet that she determined to not grant the previous sheriff bond after “vital consideration,” citing the capital offense cost as a key consider her choice.
Protection lawyer Jeremy Bartley requested questions of KSP Detective Clayton Stamper at Shawn “Mickey” Stines preliminary listening to at Morgan County District Courtroom. Oct. 1, 2024 (Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Pictures)
Stines pleaded not responsible on Sept. 25. He formally resigned as sheriff on the finish of September after receiving a letter from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Kentucky Common Counsel S. Travis Mayo urging him to take action. He’s being held two counties away at Leslie County Jail, police stated.
It’s nonetheless unclear what motivated the previous sheriff to tug the set off.
KENTUCKY SHERIFF CHARGED WITH FATALLY SHOOTING JUDGE DEPOSED IN RAPE-RELATED CASE DAYS EARLIER
District Decide Kevin Mullins, 54, was killed by Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43, in his decide’s chambers, authorities stated. (Kentucky Courtroom of Justice ;Letcher County Sheriff’s Workplace)
Kentucky State Police Det. Clayton Stamper testified on the preliminary listening to that the 2 males had eaten lunch along with a bunch within the hours earlier than the taking pictures, the Courier-Journal reported.
In line with Stamper, Stines tried to name his daughter on his personal cellphone, then on Mullins’ cellphone.
“Our investigators seized the 2 cellphones, and so they’re being analyzed,” Kentucky State Police Trooper Matt Gayheart beforehand advised the Day by day Mail.
“I used to be advised that the decide made a press release to Mickey about, ‘Do we have to meet non-public in my chambers?’” Stamper testified, The Related Press reported.
NEW VIDEO SHOWS KENTUCKY SHERIFF POINTING GUN AT JUDGE BEFORE ALLEGED FATAL SHOOTING
Former Letcher County Ky. Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines appears over on the prosecutors throughout his arraignment on the Morgan County Courthouse in West Liberty, Ky., Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. Stines is accused of killing District Decide Kevin Mullins. (AP Photograph/Timothy D. Easley)
“It could possibly be, however I don’t know that for a truth,” Stamper stated when requested whether or not Stines was motivated to shoot Mullins primarily based on what he noticed on the decide’s cellphone.
“I talked to him, however he didn’t say nothing about why this had occurred,” Stamper stated, in response to the AP. “However he was calm… Mainly, all he stated was, ‘Deal with me truthful.’”
When Stines was taken into custody, he allegedly advised one other officer, “they’re attempting to kidnap my spouse and child,” Stamper stated.
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Bartley beforehand advised Folks that the taking pictures “was not one thing that was deliberate and occurred within the warmth of ardour.”
“For us, the very best stage of culpability must be manslaughter primarily based on the partial protection of utmost emotional disturbance,” Bartley stated.
The taking pictures within the metropolis of Whitesburg has shaken the neighborhood of Letcher County, Kentucky, the place Stines served as a bailiff in Mullins’ court docket earlier than changing into sheriff in 2018.
“We’re all in a state of shock over it,” Garnard Kincer Jr., Mullins’ good friend and former mayor of Jenkins, advised Folks. “It virtually immobilized us. We simply cannot imagine it occurred.”
Sheriff’s protection in decide homicide might rely upon deposition in separate case: report
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