The general counsel for Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has ordered the sheriff accused of shooting down a judge in his chambers to retire by the end of the week or face removal proceedings.
S. Travis Mayo informed Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines in a letter on Wednesday that if he does not tender his resignation to the Letcher County judge/executive by the end of Friday, he will proceed with his removal under a state law that allows governors to fire peace officers for neglect.
Stines, who has pled not guilty to first-degree murder in the killing of District Judge Kevin Mullins on September 19, has 20 days to prepare a defense, according to the statute.
Mullins, 54, was shot many times and pronounced dead on the scene. Stines, 43, submitted to the courthouse without incident.
The Letcher County Sheriff’s Office could not be reached for comment on Thursday. A lawyer for Stines in a 2022 federal civil action accusing him of failing to sufficiently train and supervise a deputy suspected of abuse did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Terry Adams, the Letcher County Judge/Executive, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to a Kentucky State Police official, the shooting occurred following an argument inside the Letcher County Courthouse. Authorities have not revealed a suspected motive.
According to the victim’s lawyer, Stines was deposed for nearly four hours three days before the shooting in connection with a federal complaint alleging that the deputy assaulted a woman.
Stines’ lawyer argued in court that his position as an elected politician and law enforcement officer shielded him from being sued over the allegations.
When asked if state police are looking into a relationship between the suit and the shooting, a spokesperson for the agency, Matt Gayheart, said, “Nothing is being ruled out as a possible motive at this point.”
Jonathan Shaw, the lawyer representing Stines in the lawsuit, stated that he knew nothing about the incident beyond what had been published in the media.
“I hope that in time we will have a clearer understanding of the circumstances that led to Judge Mullins’ death,” Shaw wrote in a message to friends.