The legal battle surrounding former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines took a sharp twist this week, as new filings hint at where his defense may be heading.
Stines has already admitted to pulling the trigger on his longtime friend, District Court Judge Kevin Mullins, yet continues to plead not guilty in the criminal case stemming from the September 2024 shooting inside the judge’s own chambers.
Attorneys Suggest a Mind in Crisis
In documents cited by the Lexington Herald-Leader, Stines’ defense team made an unusual claim: they say he simply wasn’t capable of forming the intent to kill.
Their argument paints a picture of a man spiraling into paranoia and psychosis—someone whose mental state had slipped far enough that he no longer had control over his actions.
They also hinted they may rely heavily on defenses tied to his mental health, including assertions that Stines had no malicious intent and may have been suffering from pre-existing neurological or psychiatric issues.
A Widow’s Lawsuit Meets a Complicated Response
These claims were laid out as part of the sheriff’s response to a civil suit filed by Mullins’ widow, Kimberly, on behalf of herself and the couple’s two daughters.
Although the filing was in the civil case, it gave the clearest look so far at the arguments his attorneys may lean on in the criminal trial.
And those arguments matter—because if Stines is proven mentally incapacitated or overwhelmed by extreme emotional distress, he could potentially avoid the death penalty.
The Violent Moment That Sparked It All
The tragedy unfolded on September 19, 2024, when Stines walked into the courthouse in Whitesburg, approached the judge’s chambers, and drew his weapon.
Mullins tried to scramble behind his desk for cover, but Stines opened fire at close range.
He was arrested immediately and has remained behind bars ever since.
Civil Claims Aim at More Than One Person
In addition to Stines, the widow’s lawsuit also names three Letcher County Sheriff’s Office employees—Jason Eckles, LaShawna Frazier, and Christine Bolling.
She accuses them of failing to act despite witnessing Stines’ increasingly disturbed behavior.
The suit argues that as courthouse security personnel, they had a duty to warn the judge that his longtime friend might pose a threat.
Their attorneys, however, insist the workers are protected under sovereign immunity and had no “special relationship” with Stines that would have required them to anticipate or prevent violence.
Stines’ Team Also Leans on Sovereign Immunity
Stines’ attorneys made a similar push, arguing that because he was acting in his official capacity as sheriff at the time of the shooting, he too should be shielded from the civil claims.
And if that argument is rejected, they’ve asked the court to drop the negligence counts, insisting negligence must involve intention—something they maintain was impossible given his mental state.
A Federal Investigation Looms in the Background
A key part of the insanity argument revolves around the pressure Stines was reportedly under due to an ongoing federal investigation.
The months before the shooting brought renewed focus on a disturbing lawsuit claiming a deputy had coerced a woman into sex inside Judge Mullins’ office.
In that 2022 filing, the woman—Sabrina Adkins—went further, accusing Judge Mullins of participating in a sex-for-favors arrangement and alleging that multiple encounters were filmed.
Stines himself was pulled into the matter just days before the shooting, when he sat for a deposition and described battling dizziness, headaches, sweating, and memory issues linked to California encephalitis.
The Days Leading Up to the Shooting Paint a Troubling Picture
Defense attorney Jeremy Bartley says that deposition may end up being the linchpin of the entire case.
He argues Stines was terrified of backlash from the scandal and worried that either he or his family might be harmed.
That idea is echoed in footage from the courthouse on the day of the shooting, where Stines appears panicked, calling his daughter from the judge’s office phone and insisting he felt unsafe.
Bodycam Footage Shows a Man in Distress
Minutes after firing the fatal shot, body-worn cameras captured Stines shaking, rambling, and telling troopers he believed he would die if they took him to jail.
His fear was so intense that he begged officers to place him in the county jail next door rather than transport him to Leslie County, nearly an hour away.
When he finally arrived at the Leslie County Detention Center, staff reported that he remained in what they described as active psychosis, unable to recall recent events and heavily disoriented.
The Criminal Case Faces Speed Bumps—but Moves Forward
Stines’ lawyers tried to get the murder indictment thrown out, claiming prosecutors withheld key information about his mental condition and didn’t properly record the grand jury proceedings.
A judge rejected all of that last week, ruling the panel had sufficient evidence to move forward.
However, the same judge granted Stines a future bond hearing, where the defense plans to argue emotional disturbance and potential insanity at the time of the shooting.
What Comes Next
A date for the bond hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Stines is also expected back in court on January 7 for the civil case involving the judge’s widow and daughters.