KY prosecutor asks for change of venue in Letcher Co. judge shooting
Prosecutors have asked for a change of venue for the case against Shawn “Mickey” Stines, the former Letcher County sheriff who’s charged with killing a district judge.
Jackie Steele, the commonwealth’s attorney prosecuting the case, said a change of venue for Stines’ case is proper because of immense media coverage and local residents with preconceived opinions about the case.
Stines, 44, is charged with shooting and killing former county district judge Kevin Mullins on Sept. 19, 2024, inside Mullins’ chambers. The shooting and the minutes before it were captured on video and released by the Kentucky State Police through an open records request.
“The case is unique in that the scene of the crime happens to be the courthouse in which (Stines) is reporting for pretrial conferences, status hearing and could potentially be tried in,” the 57-paged motion reads.
Steele did not recommend a different county for the case to be relocated to.
Making matters more difficult, both Stines and Mullins were elected officials. Steele said every eligible voter in Letcher County had a reason to vote for or against both men at one point. This alone could prejudice the state or defense if the case were held in Letcher County.
Media coverage in the case has ranged from local to national news sources, and speculation has run rampant on social media websites.
“Eastern Kentucky as a whole has been permeated with developments in this awaited trial to an extent that opinions as to (Stines’) guilt and what punishment he should receive have been recorded and solicited across numerous social media platforms,” Steele wrote.
Steele said the pre-trial publicity has been so great that a fair and impartial trial in Eastern Kentucky would be unlikely.
Stines requested a judge to dismiss his indictment, and if he does not, to release Stines on a $50,000 bond.
A judge has not made a decision on any of the motions, but is expected to later this month.
