Attorneys for former Letcher County, Kentucky sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines, accused of murdering District Judge Kevin Mullins in his chambers, have filed a motion to dismiss the indictment. They allege the state failed to record a grand jury meeting and withheld information, specifically about an ongoing civil lawsuit where Stines is a defendant, which they claim is relevant to the shooting. Stines' lawyers plan an insanity defense, arguing he feared for his family's safety due to courthouse sexual abuse allegations and pressure to remain silent.
Ex-sheriff accused of shooting judge in chambers says state skirted law, should toss murder case: report
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Attorneys for former Letcher County, Kentucky sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines, accused of murdering District Judge Kevin Mullins in his chambers, have filed a motion to dismiss the indictment. They allege the state failed to record a grand jury meeting and withheld information, specifically about an ongoing civil lawsuit where Stines is a defendant, which they claim is relevant to the shooting. Stines' lawyers plan an insanity defense, arguing he feared for his family's safety due to courthouse sexual abuse allegations and pressure to remain silent.
Trending- 1 Sept. 19, 2024: Shawn 'Mickey' Stines allegedly shot District Judge Kevin Mullins.
- 2 Three days before shooting: Stines was deposed in a civil case against Ben Fields.
- 3 November 2024: Letcher County grand jury indicted Stines (meeting allegedly unrecorded).
- 4 Recently: Stines' attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the indictment.
- Legal challenge to the murder indictment
- Potential for dismissal or further legal proceedings
- Ongoing public attention to the case and allegations of courthouse misconduct
What: Attorneys for former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines filed a motion to dismiss his murder indictment for shooting Judge Kevin Mullins, alleging prosecutorial misconduct and withheld information from the grand jury.
When: Motion filed recently; shooting occurred Sept. 19, 2024; grand jury meeting November 2024; Stines deposed three days before shooting.
Where: Letcher County, Kentucky; Letcher County Courthouse.
Why: Stines' attorneys claim the grand jury was denied information about a civil lawsuit involving Stines and allegations of sexual abuse within the courthouse, which they argue provides context for the shooting and Stines' state of mind (fear for family, pressure to keep silent).
How: Attorneys filed a motion alleging the state failed to record a grand jury meeting and that testimony from the lead investigator was prejudicial. They plan an insanity defense.