September 16, 2024 (Three Days Before the Shooting):

• Sheriff Stines participated in a deposition related to a federal lawsuit alleging that a former deputy had coerced women into sexual acts within the courthouse. During the deposition, Stines appeared agitated, taking multiple breaks and exhibiting unusual behavior.

September 19, 2024:

• 12:00 PM: Judge Mullins and Sheriff Stines, long-time colleagues and friends, had lunch together at a local restaurant. Mullins made a comment to Stines about meeting later in private in his chambers.
• 2:39 PM: Sheriff Stines entered Judge Mullins’ chambers, for a private conversation. 
• 2:50 PM: Sheriff Shawn Stines exchanging cell phones with Judge Kevin Mullins.
• 2:51 PM: Stines tried to call his daughter from the judge’s phone.
• 2:51:38 PM: Stines stood up from his chair and took the gun out of his pocket.
• 2:51:40 PM: Judge Mullins attempted to stand up, but Steins ordered him to sit back down.
• 2:51:49 PM Stines locked the chamber door from the inside while still holding a gun.. 
• 2:52:14 PM: After the first series of shots, Mullins tried to take cover behind his desk. Stines fired multiple rounds. Source
• 2:52:33 PM: Stines exited the chambers and shortly after surrendered to authorities without incident. Officers heard Stines say “They’re trying to kidnap my wife and kid” ( Source) when he was arrested. He was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder.
• 2:55 PM. Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 13, Hazard, received a 9-1-1 call from the Letcher County Courthouse in reference to shots being fired from inside the building. Several law enforcement agencies and emergency medical services responded to the scene and located District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, of Jackhorn, with multiple gunshot wounds. Lifesaving measures were attempted but unsuccessful. Mullins was pronounced deceased on scene by the Letcher County Coroner’s Office.  Source
• 3:00 PM Stines surrendered himself to police without incident, Gayheart said. He was arrested and booked in the Leslie County Detention Center, about an hour drive away, inmate records show. The preliminary investigation indicates that Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43, of McRoberts, fatally shot Mullins following an argument inside the courthouse. Stines was taken into custody at the scene without incident. Stines has been charged with one count of Murder. The investigation remains ongoing and is being investigated by KSP Post 13 Detective Clayton Stamper. Source
• 4:20 PM: Stines was transported to jail for processing. 
• 5:20 PM Special prosecutors announced: Following the deadly shooting in Letcher County, our Office will collaborate with Commonwealth’s Attorney for the 27th Judicial Circuit Jackie Steele as special prosecutors in this case.. Source
• 5:30 PM Gov. Andy Beshear confirms district judge died Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed on X, formerly Twitter, that a district judge in Letcher County was fatally shot in his chambers. Source
• 8:00 PM KSP announced murder charge In a press release, Gayheart announced Stines faces a murder charge for his suspected involvement in the killing of Mullins.

September 20, 2024

• 8:00 AM Letcher County court issued an emergency closing order: September 19, 2024, a tragic incident occurred within the Letcher County Courthouse located at 156 Main Street in Whitesburg. Due to this incident, the Letcher County Courthouse is non-operational for holding court, operating court offices, and other essential court functions and has been ordered closed by the Letcher County Chief Circuit Judge beginning Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. Efforts are underway to assess damage and restore the courthouse for operations. Source
• 10:30 AM: Matt Butler, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Letcher County Recused himself in the statement: A note on my recusal and what to expect from my office and the special prosecutors. Please continue to pray for the family of Judge Mullins. Source

Stines has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. He was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center. As of early 2025, court proceedings are ongoing, with prosecutors preparing a substantial body of evidence, including surveillance footage, forensic data, and cell phone records. If convicted, Stines could face life in prison or the death penalty under Kentucky law

September 30, 2024

• In a statement released by his attorney, Shawn “Mickey” Stines announced that he would retire, effective Monday. Source

October 2024

• Prosecutors begin preparing a case, while Stines’ defense indicates plans to use extreme emotional disturbance as a defense.
• Allegations surface that Stines may have been triggered by Judge Mullins contacting his daughter.

November 21, 2024

• A grand jury formally indicts Stines for the murder of a public official. Source

November 25, 2024

• 1:00 PM – Stines arraignment hearing at the Morgan County Judicial Center.
  

January 2025

• Status hearing held. Defense requests a mental health evaluation.
• Stines is declared indigent and assigned public defenders.

March 4, 2025,

• Counsel for the former Kentucky sheriff accused of shooting Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins alerted the court that they’re preparing an insanity defense
• A judge ordered Stines to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center to assess his mental health and determine if he meets the criteria for insanity under Kentucky law . The evaluation aims to establish whether he lacked substantial capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law

Ongoing

• Prosecutors state they have “voluminous” evidence, including:
• Surveillance footage,
• Phone data,
• Witness testimony.
• Trial proceedings are pending. If convicted, Stines could face life in prison or the death penalty.

Full Name: Shawn Mickey Stines
Born: 1981
Birthplace: Whitesburg, Kentucky
Hometown: Raised in Fleming-Neon, Kentucky
Current Residence: McRoberts, Kentucky — an unincorporated community in Letcher County
Marital Status: Married to Caroline Stines (née Gibson)

1999: Graduated from Fleming-Neon High School
2000 (Age 19): Moved to McRoberts, Kentucky with his girlfriend (later wife), Caroline Gibson, who was originally from McRoberts.
Education: Attended Southeast Community College (26 credit hours completed, basic courses)

Professional Background:

• 2001: Began law enforcement career as a patrol officer with Fleming-Neon Police Department (7 months; laid off due to budget cuts)
• 2002: Served as court security officer and deputy with the Letcher County Sheriff’s Office
• Worked under Sheriffs Steve Banks and Danny Webb
• Never completed the full 20-week law enforcement academy; was “grandfathered in” as CSO
• 2003: Served continuously as a CSO (bailiff) in District Court, primarily under Judge James T. Wood, then later Judge Kevin Mullins
  
• 2004: Worked as a home incarceration officer for East Kentucky Correctional Services (EKCS).
• Was recommended for the job by Judge James Wood and County Attorney Harold Bolling.
• Received initial equipment training from Patty Stockham in Pikeville, Kentucky.
• Paid as contract labor with $3.00/day per person monitored and $25 per hookup.
• At times earned over $30,000 per year from EKCS.
• Maintained verbal permission for outside employment from Sheriff Webb.
• Occasionally used county-owned vehicles and equipment (e.g., duty belt, firearm, cruiser) while performing private EKCS work or working security at a local hospital.
• Testified to collecting payments in cash and issuing hand-written receipts.
  
• 2018: Ran for Sheriff of Letcher County as part of a longtime personal aspiration to hold the position.
• Won the election in November 2018.
• 2019–2024: Elected Sheriff of Letcher County
• Took office in January 2019 following a 2018 election victory
• Cited becoming sheriff as a lifelong dream
• Worked concurrently for East Kentucky Correctional Services (EKCS) for approximately 14–16 years, beginning around 2004
• Managed home incarceration equipment and offender monitoring
• Was paid on commission ($3/day per person, $25 per installation)

Personnel Actions and Legal Involvement

2022: 

• Was involved in the handling and termination of Ben Fields, a deputy accused of sexual misconduct.
• Reported the allegations to Kentucky State Police, Commonwealth’s Attorney, and County Attorney.
• Denied knowledge of prior misconduct by Fields during his employment at the Letcher County Jail.
• Fields’ hiring was based on a recommendation from Stines, who described him as “nice, polite, professional, dependable.”
• Later became a defendant in civil litigation involving Sabrina Adkins and the estate of Jennifer Hill, related to misconduct allegations in the sheriff’s office.
• The deposition from September 16, 2024, was part of that lawsuit.

Stines is known to be a family man, with reports indicating he was close with his children and worked hard to address the drug crisis in his community . He had expressed interest in retiring from law enforcement and possibly pursuing a law degree.

Career in Law Enforcement: Stines served as the elected sheriff of Letcher County, where he worked closely with the judiciary, including District Judge Kevin Mullins. During his tenure, Stines became a familiar figure in the local justice system, though his department became entangled in controversy. Source

2018: He was first elected sheriff and re-elected in 2022. During his tenure, Stines was known for his efforts to combat the opioid crisis and assist individuals struggling with substance abuse

2019: Stines was sued by a former Letcher County Deputy Sheriff claiming retaliation for campaigning against him during the election Source

2022: Federal lawsuit filed prior to the shooting alleged that a former deputy under Stines’ command had coerced women into sex acts within the courthouse

Controversies and Lawsuits:

A woman sued both Sheriff Stines and Fields in 2022. Sabrina Adkins alleges that Ben Fields met her in a district judge’s chambers late at night six times in 2021 and forced her to engage in “unwanted kissing, oral sex and intercourse” in exchange for “favorable treatment for sexual favors” when she couldn’t afford ankle monitoring and home confinement. Adkins, 45, says after she was released from the Letcher County Jail last June 2, Field was assigned as her home-incarceration officer and visited her to bring her cigarettes and console her. She says she told him she didn’t have any money to pay for her ankle bracelet and was terrified to return to jail. 

The suit says Fields made “flirtatious comments” about her looks and told her he was confident they could “work something out.”  In late June, the suit says, he asked her to meet at the courthouse after dark and took her into a judge’s chambers, telling her there were no cameras there.  He allegedly then took off her ankle bracelet and told her she would not have to pay any fees but could remain on home incarceration. 

Between late June and December, Fields met her there at night or in the early morning about six times and allegedly sexually abused her there. The suit says he would put her bracelet on before court appearances. 

• She said after certain unnamed persons at the courthouse reported Fields was having inappropriate contact with her and provided text messages proving it, he filed a complaint against her that she wasn’t complying with the terms of home incarceration to punish her and “in an attempt to save his reputation.”
• Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines, who is named as a defendant in the suit for allegedly failing to properly train Fields, said in an interview Fields is a veteran deputy and has not been the subject of any previous complaints. 

Stines Named in a federal lawsuit: Adkins et al v. Ben Fields et al, Case 7:22-cv-00007 regarding allegations of sexual misconduct by a deputy Ben Fields, which Stines referred to Kentucky State Police

• Adkins Was deposed on September 16, 2024 regarding this lawsuit
• During deposition, he admitted:
• He was not formally trained in certain academy protocols due to job role exemptions
• He had used county equipment (cruiser, gun, duty belt) for secondary jobs (e.g., hospital security)
• There was no formal documentation for several secondary job approvals
• He recommended Ben Fields for sheriff’s deputy and EKCS employment, based on personal opinion and Fields’ family connections

Court Records

Accessing Investigation Records

For those interested in reviewing the official investigation records related to this case, the following resources are available:

• Kentucky State Police: The KSP has been leading the investigation. Official statements and updates can be found on their news releases page. KSP App
• Letcher County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office: Physical copies of court records can be requested in person at the clerk’s office located at the Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg, Kentucky.
• Kentucky Court of Justice Online Services: Some court records may be accessible through the Kentucky Court of Justice’s online portal, depending on the nature of the documents and public access policies.
• Public Records Requests: Formal requests for specific documents can be submitted under the Kentucky Open Records Act to the appropriate custodians of the records.

On September 19, 2024, District Court Judge Kevin R. Mullins was shot and killed at the Letcher County Courthouse in Letcher County, Kentucky. Surveillance footage reveals Sheriff Shawn Stines exchanging cell phones with Judge Kevin Mullins moments before Stines fatally shot the judge in his Whitesburg, Kentucky, court chambers.

On September 19, 2024, District Court Judge Kevin R. Mullins was shot and killed at the Letcher County Courthouse in Letcher County, Kentucky. Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines was arrested in connection with the shooting.

Former Kentucky sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines was in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing. Video of him shooting Letcher County Judge Kevin Mullins in the county courthouse was played during the hearing.

Former sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines will move forward to trial after the court saw new footage of him fatally shooting Judge Kevin Mullins in chambers. The probable cause hearing also revealed that Stines’ daughter may be involved