Topline: Stines’ attorneys argue the grand jury process was flawed and are asking the court to throw out the murder indictment.
Published: June 10, 2025 7:00 am ET
Must Read
Judge Kevin Mullins, left, (via Kentucky Court of Justice) and Shawn Stines (via Leslie County Detention Center)
LETCHER COUNTY, KY — The case against former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines has taken a new turn as his legal team filed a motion to dismiss the murder indictment against him in the fatal shooting of District Judge Kevin Mullins.
Stines is accused of entering Mullins’ chambers in September 2024 and shooting the judge to death. The violent encounter was captured on internal security cameras, and Stines later turned himself in. He was indicted for murder in November 2024.
According to WLKY, the motion to dismiss centers on a previously unrecorded meeting between the Commonwealth’s attorney and the grand jury. Stines’ attorneys argue this violates Kentucky Rule 5.16, which mandates that “all of the testimony before a grand jury” must be recorded. The motion claims the meeting wasn’t due to mechanical failure but was intentionally left off the record, thereby invalidating the indictment.
As reported by the Courier Journal, the motion further claims that the grand jury was denied key information and exposed to misleading testimony from Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper. A grand juror allegedly referenced the unrecorded meeting during Stamper’s testimony. While the Commonwealth stated the meeting was only for issuing subpoenas, Stines’ legal team argues subpoenas don’t require a grand jury and that all discussions related to the case should have been recorded.
Stines’ attorneys also claim the grand jury was redirected when asking about his mental state and a civil case tied to courthouse misconduct, which “deprived the Grand Jury of its independent investigation,” according to the motion.
That civil case, filed in federal court in 2022, alleges one of Stines’ deputies, Ben Fields—now serving prison time—raped a woman inside Mullins’ chambers in exchange for removing her ankle monitor. Stines gave a deposition in the case just three days before the shooting.
According to Fox News Digital, defense attorney Jeremy Bartley said his client felt threatened not to reveal details in that deposition. “He believed that they [his wife and daughter] were in danger because of what he knew to have happened within the courthouse,” Bartley said.
Body camera footage from the arrest reportedly shows a visibly paranoid Stines pleading with officers: “Y’all are gonna kill me, I know you are. Let’s just get it over with.”
Bartley plans to argue an insanity defense. As the Courier Journal noted, Special Judge Christopher Cohron ordered a psychiatric evaluation in March to determine whether Stines could understand the criminality of his actions at the time of the shooting.
Along with the motion to dismiss, Stines’ attorneys have also requested a bond hearing, citing his lifelong ties to Letcher County and prior service in law enforcement as reasons he is not a flight risk.
As for when a trial might begin, prosecutors have acknowledged the discovery process could take “some time,” the Daily Mail reported.
An evidentiary hearing will likely be scheduled to review whether the grand jury process was compromised, which could determine if the indictment will stand or be dismissed with prejudice.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Indictment Under Fire: What’s Next in the Case Against Sheriff Accused of Killing Judge Mullins
Stines’ attorneys argue the grand jury process was flawed and are asking the court to throw out the murder indictment.
By Jacob Charles
Published: June 10, 2025 7:00 am ET
Judge Kevin Mullins, left, (via Kentucky Court of Justice) and Shawn Stines (via Leslie County Detention Center)
LETCHER COUNTY, KY — The case against former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines has taken a new turn as his legal team filed a motion to dismiss the murder indictment against him in the fatal shooting of District Judge Kevin Mullins.
Stines is accused of entering Mullins’ chambers in September 2024 and shooting the judge to death. The violent encounter was captured on internal security cameras, and Stines later turned himself in. He was indicted for murder in November 2024.
According to WLKY, the motion to dismiss centers on a previously unrecorded meeting between the Commonwealth’s attorney and the grand jury. Stines’ attorneys argue this violates Kentucky Rule 5.16, which mandates that “all of the testimony before a grand jury” must be recorded. The motion claims the meeting wasn’t due to mechanical failure but was intentionally left off the record, thereby invalidating the indictment.
As reported by the Courier Journal, the motion further claims that the grand jury was denied key information and exposed to misleading testimony from Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper. A grand juror allegedly referenced the unrecorded meeting during Stamper’s testimony. While the Commonwealth stated the meeting was only for issuing subpoenas, Stines’ legal team argues subpoenas don’t require a grand jury and that all discussions related to the case should have been recorded.
Stines’ attorneys also claim the grand jury was redirected when asking about his mental state and a civil case tied to courthouse misconduct, which “deprived the Grand Jury of its independent investigation,” according to the motion.
That civil case, filed in federal court in 2022, alleges one of Stines’ deputies, Ben Fields—now serving prison time—raped a woman inside Mullins’ chambers in exchange for removing her ankle monitor. Stines gave a deposition in the case just three days before the shooting.
According to Fox News Digital, defense attorney Jeremy Bartley said his client felt threatened not to reveal details in that deposition. “He believed that they [his wife and daughter] were in danger because of what he knew to have happened within the courthouse,” Bartley said.
Body camera footage from the arrest reportedly shows a visibly paranoid Stines pleading with officers: “Y’all are gonna kill me, I know you are. Let’s just get it over with.”
Bartley plans to argue an insanity defense. As the Courier Journal noted, Special Judge Christopher Cohron ordered a psychiatric evaluation in March to determine whether Stines could understand the criminality of his actions at the time of the shooting.
Along with the motion to dismiss, Stines’ attorneys have also requested a bond hearing, citing his lifelong ties to Letcher County and prior service in law enforcement as reasons he is not a flight risk.
As for when a trial might begin, prosecutors have acknowledged the discovery process could take “some time,” the Daily Mail reported.
An evidentiary hearing will likely be scheduled to review whether the grand jury process was compromised, which could determine if the indictment will stand or be dismissed with prejudice.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Indictment Under Fire: What’s Next in the Case Against Sheriff Accused of Killing Judge Mullins
Stines’ attorneys argue the grand jury process was flawed and are asking the court to throw out the murder indictment.
By Jacob Charles
Published: June 10, 2025 7:00 am ET
Judge Kevin Mullins, left, (via Kentucky Court of Justice) and Shawn Stines (via Leslie County Detention Center)
LETCHER COUNTY, KY — The case against former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines has taken a new turn as his legal team filed a motion to dismiss the murder indictment against him in the fatal shooting of District Judge Kevin Mullins.
Stines is accused of entering Mullins’ chambers in September 2024 and shooting the judge to death. The violent encounter was captured on internal security cameras, and Stines later turned himself in. He was indicted for murder in November 2024.
According to WLKY, the motion to dismiss centers on a previously unrecorded meeting between the Commonwealth’s attorney and the grand jury. Stines’ attorneys argue this violates Kentucky Rule 5.16, which mandates that “all of the testimony before a grand jury” must be recorded. The motion claims the meeting wasn’t due to mechanical failure but was intentionally left off the record, thereby invalidating the indictment.
As reported by the Courier Journal, the motion further claims that the grand jury was denied key information and exposed to misleading testimony from Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper. A grand juror allegedly referenced the unrecorded meeting during Stamper’s testimony. While the Commonwealth stated the meeting was only for issuing subpoenas, Stines’ legal team argues subpoenas don’t require a grand jury and that all discussions related to the case should have been recorded.
Stines’ attorneys also claim the grand jury was redirected when asking about his mental state and a civil case tied to courthouse misconduct, which “deprived the Grand Jury of its independent investigation,” according to the motion.
That civil case, filed in federal court in 2022, alleges one of Stines’ deputies, Ben Fields—now serving prison time—raped a woman inside Mullins’ chambers in exchange for removing her ankle monitor. Stines gave a deposition in the case just three days before the shooting.
According to Fox News Digital, defense attorney Jeremy Bartley said his client felt threatened not to reveal details in that deposition. “He believed that they [his wife and daughter] were in danger because of what he knew to have happened within the courthouse,” Bartley said.
Body camera footage from the arrest reportedly shows a visibly paranoid Stines pleading with officers: “Y’all are gonna kill me, I know you are. Let’s just get it over with.”
Bartley plans to argue an insanity defense. As the Courier Journal noted, Special Judge Christopher Cohron ordered a psychiatric evaluation in March to determine whether Stines could understand the criminality of his actions at the time of the shooting.
Along with the motion to dismiss, Stines’ attorneys have also requested a bond hearing, citing his lifelong ties to Letcher County and prior service in law enforcement as reasons he is not a flight risk.
As for when a trial might begin, prosecutors have acknowledged the discovery process could take “some time,” the Daily Mail reported.
An evidentiary hearing will likely be scheduled to review whether the grand jury process was compromised, which could determine if the indictment will stand or be dismissed with prejudice.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
