A judge is killed, the sheriff charged — and a small town in Kentucky is shaken to its core

[ThatRobGuy]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/21/us/kentucky-community-struggles-sheriff-charged-judge-killing/index.html

A small, tight-knit southeast Kentucky community has been reeling after their sheriff was arrested for the killing of a prominent district judge in his chambers Thursday – spurring residents to wonder what could have triggered the shooting and prompting calls for better courthouse security.

Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43 - a man whose role made him responsible for judges’ personal security - gunned down District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, at the Letcher County courthouse in Whitesburg, according to Kentucky State Police.

Stines turned himself in after the shooting and was arrested at the scene without incident, authorities said. He is now facing a first-degree murder charge, state police said.

 

[Hazelelponi]

This is national news?

 

[JosephZ]

This is national news?

It's rare for a judge to be murdered in the US, so when it happens, it's going to get covered by the national media.

 

[bèlla]

Wow, that's terrible. Prayers for his family and friends.

 

[Hazelelponi]

It's rare for a judge to be murdered in the US, so when it happens, it's going to get covered by the national media.

Was he murdered? Last I heard that was up in the air .. the sheriff was there to arrest the judge.

 

[JosephZ]

Was he murdered?

The sheriff shot him multiple times, so he most likely intended to kill him. That's why he is facing a first degree murder charge.

 

[JosephZ]

The sheriff shouldn't have been the one to go arrest the judge from what I heard, but the judge should have been arrested.

There were no charges against the judge and the sheriff wasn't there to arrest him.

 

[Hazelelponi]

There were no charges against the judge and the sheriff wasn't there to arrest him.

Kentucky sheriff who allegedly killed judge faced allegations of ignoring deputy's abuse of woman in his chambers

Kentucky Sheriff Shawn M. Stines has been charged with murder in the first degree in the fatal shooting of District Judge Kevin Mullins.

www.cbsnews.com

The shooting was in connection to the above which details allegations of sexual favors being traded for between a deputy and a woman in the judges chambers.

I'm sure what exactly happened will be found out in time.

 

[Hans Blaster]

Kentucky sheriff who allegedly killed judge faced allegations of ignoring deputy's abuse of woman in his chambers

Kentucky Sheriff Shawn M. Stines has been charged with murder in the first degree in the fatal shooting of District Judge Kevin Mullins.

www.cbsnews.com

The shooting was in connection to the above which details allegations of sexual favors being traded for between a deputy and a woman in the judges chambers.

I'm sure what exactly happened will be found out in time.

That was the subject of a federal lawsuit. There is no reporting of any charges pending against the (now dead) judge.

 

[RileyG]

It's rare for a judge to be murdered in the US, so when it happens, it's going to get covered by the national media.

How very sad and frightening.

 

[Laodicean60]

I second this statement!

"There is far too much violence in this world, and I pray there is a path to a better tomorrow," Gov. Andy Beshear posted in response to the shooting.

Kentucky sheriff who allegedly killed judge faced allegations of ignoring deputy's abuse of woman in his chambers

Kentucky Sheriff Shawn M. Stines has been charged with murder in the first degree in the fatal shooting of District Judge Kevin Mullins.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[essentialsaltes]

Motive still unclear

As police took him into custody, Stines reportedly made a cryptic statement that authorities are still trying to decipher.

“They are trying to kidnap my wife and kid,” Stines said, according to testimony from Kentucky State Police Det. Clayton Stamper, who is leading the investigation.

At one point [in proceedings related to a deputy's sexual favors case a few days before the killing], Stines was asked whether he had authorized his deputy to use public equipment to manage the ankle monitors.

“I don’t recall,” said Stines. “ I am having an episode. Sorry.”

Stines took another break, one of 10, according to the deposition.

The following day, Stines, who usually returned press calls promptly, took many hours to get back to a reporter about a fatal accident, according to The Mountain Eagle, Letcher’s weekly newspaper. Editor Ben Gish said Stines told his employees not to answer any questions about anything while he was away from the office. Gish said this was out of character for Stines, who was normally friendly to the press.