Kentucky sheriff pleads not guilty in fatal shooting of local judge

A Kentucky sheriff who has been accused of fatally shooting a local judge pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to the murder charge, in his first court appearance since the shocking event.

Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines was charged with shooting Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins last week, after a reported argument turned deadly. Stines allegedly shot Mullins multiple times, before surrendering at the courthouse. No information on a possible motive has been released so far.

Carter County District Judge H. Rupert Wilhoit III, who oversaw the hearing despite being in another county, mostly focused on legal counsel for Stines, and his ability to pay for an attorney. 

A public defender was appointed to Stines for Wednesday's hearing and a follow-up in October, but the costs of defending Stines are expected to reach several hundred thousand dollars, according to the Associated Press, which the trial court could require him to pay.

No possible bail was discussed in the hearing.

Stines is also expected to lose his job over the incident, which pays an approximate $115,000 each year. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has called for Stines' resignation by the end of Friday, or he will be removed.

If convicted, Stines could face between 20 years and life in prison. He could also face the death penalty for killing a public official.

“Any decisions regarding the death penalty will be done at a later date when all the evidence has been processed and the case has had a thorough evaluation," special prosecutor Jackie Steele told the Lexington-Herald Leader.

Mullins, who was 54 at the time of his death, had served in the county seat since 2009. 

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.