The Kentucky sheriff accused of fatally shooting Judge Mullins in his chambers last week may face the death penalty if convicted, according to a special judge appointed to oversee the case.
Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, 43, made his first court appearance on Wednesday, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder.
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The incident occurred on Thursday when Stines allegedly shot and killed Kentucky District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, inside his chambers at the Letcher County Courthouse, officials reported. Kentucky State Police said the shooting followed an argument inside the courthouse, though investigators are still working to uncover a motive.
According to Letcher County Circuit Clerk Mike Watts, the two had shared lunch earlier that day.
During the brief court hearing, Stines appeared over Zoom in a jail uniform, showing little emotion. His public defender entered the not-guilty plea on his behalf. Stines is scheduled to appear in court again on October 1.
Judge Mullins was found with multiple gunshot wounds after a 911 call reported shots fired inside the courthouse. Stines was arrested without incident at the scene, according to police.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether Stines used his service weapon during the shooting.
Just days before the incident, Stines had been deposed in a lawsuit alleging that he failed to investigate a deputy accused of sexually abusing a woman in Judge Mullins’ chambers.
On Friday, Whitesburg Mayor Tiffany Craft expressed the community’s shock, telling WTVQ that the town had been “rocked to its core.”
“You never imagine something like this happening in a small town,” Craft said, noting that both Mullins and Stines were regarded as “pillars of the community.”
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Watts, who had known both men for decades, shared his grief: “Both men were my friends and work family. I saw them almost daily at work.”
