Bond hearing granted for Kentucky ex-sheriff accused of gunning down judge

A judge refused to dismiss the murder indictment against a former Kentucky sheriff accused of gunning down a judge in his courthouse chambers, but will allow a bond hearing for the ex-lawman now jailed for more than a year, according to rulings released Thursday.

At the upcoming bond hearing, defense attorneys cannot discuss the contents of a sealed mental health evaluation of former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, said Circuit Judge Christopher Cohron. A date for the hearing was not immediately set by Cohron, who serves as special judge in the case.

Cohron said in the ruling Wednesday that “a bail hearing is not a trial rehearsal.”

In granting the defense request for the bond hearing, the judge said: “The court will first hear evidence to determine whether the defendant is bailable. If the defendant is found to be bailable, the court may then consider setting a bond.”

Stines is accused of killing District Judge Kevin Mullins in September 2024 at the courthouse in Whitesburg. Security camera footage from Mullins’ chambers showed a man police identified as Stines pointing a gun and firing at Mullins. Mullins died at the scene and Stines, who was sheriff at the time, surrendered without incident.

Stines has pleaded not guilty to one count of murder of a public official.


(AP Photo Timothy D. Easley)