Court ‘cannot fathom’ keeping sheriff’s murder case in Letcher County after judge’s death
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Judge Cohron said he will be ‘‘hard-pressed’’ to keep the trial in Letcher County.
- Prosecutor Jackie Steele filed a motion citing extensive local coverage and opinions.
- Prosecution filed for a second private mental-health evaluation of Stines.
The judge overseeing the murder case for former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines says it’s likely the case will have to move to another county.
Attorneys in Stines’ case argued Friday whether the former sheriff’s trial should take place in Letcher County or somewhere else in the state.
Warren Circuit Judge Christopher Cohron, who was appointed as a special judge in the case, didn’t make a ruling on prosecutors’ request to move the trial, but said he will be “hard-pressed” to keep it in Letcher County. Cohron will review arguments from the prosecution and Stines’ lawyers before making a decision.
“I cannot fathom the thought of reasonably being able to obtain a jury in Letcher County with the amount of coverage,” Cohron said during Friday’s hearing.
The request was one of multiple motions that was brought up during Friday’s status hearing in Leslie County District Court. Stines, 45, is charged with murder after he shot and killed Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins in Mullins’ chambers in September 2024. The case has received significant media coverage at the local, state and national level.
The shooting was captured on surveillance video. Stines’ lawyers have said they plan to present an extreme emotional disturbance, or insanity, defense at trial.
The judge and lawyers also discussed requests from prosecutors to perform a second mental health evaluation on Stines and from Stines’ lawyer to set a bond for Stines. He’s being held without bond at the Leslie County Detention Center.
Prosecutors want trial moved, Stines’ lawyers want it in Letcher County
Prosecutor Jackie Steele filed a motion to have Stines’ trial, which has not been scheduled, moved away from Letcher County due to the extensive media coverage surrounding the case. Steele said the Mountain Eagle, the local newspaper in Letcher County, has published more than 100 articles about the case, including multiple anonymous voicemails from community members expressing their opinions about the case.
Steele has also seen theories from YouTube bloggers covering the case that he described as “insanity.” Steele, along with local lawyer Ashley Sturgell, Letcher County Attorney Jamie Hatton and Letcher County Commonwealth Attorney Matt Butler believe it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to find an impartial jury to sit on Stines’ trial.
“A large number of the community has strong feelings one way or the other,” Steele said. “And it’s not just in Letcher County. I had a conversation with a victim’s family in Perry County two weeks ago, and of course it came up, and he was very strong with opinions as to what it was not just based on news stories, but based on rumors and word of mouth.”
Hatton, who testified during Friday’s hearing, said he’s spoken to several community members who have expressed unbreakable opinions about the case. If a trial is scheduled in Letcher County, Hatton believes it would eventually get moved.
“We can bring this circus back to town and try and do this – you’ll just end up having to go to another venue eventually,” Hatton said.
James Cox, an attorney representing Stines, argued that the community discussing a case is not a big enough reason to move a trial away from Letcher County. He thinks the court should at least try to have the trial in Letcher County before moving it elsewhere.
“He should have the right to be tried in his own home county where he feels comfortable and safe, and (so) that he is around the people he knows,” Cox said.
Cohron didn’t make a ruling on the prosecution’s request. Jeremy Bartley, another lawyer for Stines, asked to have input on where the trial goes if it’s moved.
Cohron said he would accept requests from Bartley and prosecutors on where to move it, but ultimately the final decision rests with him.
“Realistically, if the court does grant the petition, I think we’re going to need to be far away enough where the direct media coverage is not as focused as it’s been in this part of the state,” Cohron said.
Cohron also encouraged Stines’ lawyers and prosecutors to start looking at their schedules to determine when a trial could take place.
Stines’ aunt testifies, lawyer asks for $50,000 bond
Stines’ lawyers have repeatedly pushed for Stines to be granted a bond. On Friday, lawyer Kerri Bartley proposed a $50,000 cash or property bond for Stines and was willing to agree to almost any conditions Cohron would impose.
“I think the court can fashion any number of remedies to allow him to be out in the community and prepare his defense outside of the confines (of) Leslie County jail,” Kerri Bartley said.
Kerri Bartley called Stines’ aunt, Sherri Stines, to testify during the hearing, and she said she would be willing to take him in if released from jail. She believes he would comply with any conditions set by Cohron and would make all his court appearances.
Steele argued that Stines is not eligible for bond because he is charged with a capital offense. Cohron didn’t make a deicision Friday on the request, but said if a bond is granted, it would be “much more significant” than Kerri Bartley’s request.
‘I’ve never seen Mickey act like that.’
Sherri Stines also testified about her nephew’s behavior the night before he shot and killed Mullins. She said he asked to stay the night at her house the day before the shooting because he wanted to let his wife and daughter get some rest.
Shawn Stines had been struggling to sleep around that time, which was affecting his wife and daughter. Sherri Stines said a doctor prescribed him benadryl and melatonin.
Shawn Stines acted fidgety and said he was concerned about his wife and daughter’s safety the entire night, according to his aunt. He watched his home’s security cameras and even asked to be taken to his house at one point because he thought he saw someone on the camera.
At the time, Sherri Stines said a juvenile was staying at her home while recovering from an illness, and she thought her nephew’s request to leave was strange.
“Anyone that knows Mickey knows that Mickey would have never suggested to leave a junior in high school in the bed by itself when it’s dark outside to go check around somebody’s house,” Sherri Stines said.
Sherri Stines also said her nephew’s behavior was inconsistent with how he normally acted, and said he seemed psychotic.
“He acted different,” Sherri Stines said. “I’ve never seen Mickey act like that.”
Shawn Stines left Sherri Stines’ home the next morning, but he called her around 2:49 p.m. from the courthouse. Prior review of the surveillance footage of the shooting by the Herald-Leader shows Stines making a FaceTime call on his phone around the same time, a call that lasted about 20 seconds.
Sherri Stines said her nephew asked to speak to Sherri Stines’ mom, but she had been dead for more than two years. He hung up and said he’d call back, and she thought the phone call was concerning.
“He was with me when I had to unhook my mother from the ventilator, so he knew she was gone,” Sherri Stines said.
Shawn Stines made another FaceTime call after the supposed call with Sherri Stines, but the call went unanswered.
Surveillance video from the courthouse appears to show Shawn Stines, who was with Mullins at that point, ask for Mullins’ phone.
He made a call on Mullins’ phone, but it’s unknown if anyone answered. The conversation appeared to escalate before Shawn Stines shot Mullins.
Prosecutors want Shawn Stines evaluated by a private expert
Prosecutors have requested another mental health evaluation of Stines performed by a private expert.
Shawn Stines was previously evaluated at the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center.
Jeremy Bartley acknowledged that the laws do allow prosecutors to request a second evaluation, but argued the court should not be allowed to mandate his client to undergo a second evaluation.
“How many examinations do we send him to?” Bartley said. “If this expert, whoever they may be, were to agree with both our expert, and Dr. Allen with KCPC, do we get another one?”
Cohron said he believes he has the right to mandate a second evaluation but did not make an official ruling. Prosecutor Rosa Ramsey Dallam said a second evaluation would not cause a significant delay in the case.
If a second evaluation is ordered, Jeremy Bartley asked to have his mental health expert and the KCPC doctor that evaluated Shawn Stines to be present at the evaluation with the prosecution’s private expert. Dallam thought it was fair for Jeremy Bartley’s expert to be present but not the KCPC doctor.
