A Kentucky sheriff, Shawn Stines, was charged with fatally shooting Judge Kevin Mullins inside his chambers. Prior to the shooting, Stines was accused in a lawsuit of failing to investigate claims that a local deputy, Ben Fields, was sexually assaulting women who were under house arrest. One of the women involved in the lawsuit alleged that Fields forced her to have sex inside the judge’s chambers where the shooting occurred. The lawsuit claimed that Stines was indifferent in adequately training and supervising the deputy, leading to the assault. The deposition in the lawsuit came just three days before the shooting, and it is unclear if the argument between Stines and Mullins was related to the lawsuit.
District Judge Kevin Mullins was shot multiple times at the Letcher County courthouse following an argument with Sheriff Stines. Stines was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder, with no clear motive for the shooting. The lawsuit against Stines and his failure to investigate claims of sexual assault by Deputy Fields has furthered the complexity of the situation. Fields had pleaded guilty earlier to raping a female prisoner while she was on home incarceration, resulting in a jail sentence and probation. The women claimed that Fields coerced them into sex by disabling their monitoring devices and threatening arrest if they did not comply.
The killing of Judge Mullins shocked the community in the Appalachian town of Whitesburg where the incident occurred. Whitesburg, with a population of 1,700 residents, is the county seat of government in Letcher County. The lead county prosecutor, Matt Butler, recused himself and his office from the investigation due to personal ties to Mullins. Butler cited both social and family connections to Mullins and took steps to ensure a fair and unbiased investigation. Mullins had served as a district judge overseeing various cases including juvenile matters, traffic offenses, civil cases, and domestic violence cases. He was known for promoting substance abuse treatment for individuals in the justice system.
Sheriff Stines’s confrontation with Judge Mullins and the subsequent shooting has raised concerns about law enforcement conduct and accountability in the community. The lawsuit against Stines for failing to address claims of sexual assault by a deputy further highlights issues within the local law enforcement system. The involvement of Deputy Fields, who was convicted of rape and other charges, adds another layer of complexity to the case. The town of Whitesburg has been rocked by the violence, with residents and officials grappling with the aftermath of the tragic incident.
The close-knit community in Whitesburg is reeling from the loss of Judge Mullins and the shocking events that transpired in the courthouse. The outpouring of sympathy and support for Mullins’s family and loved ones has been overwhelming. The prosecutor’s decision to recuse himself and his office to ensure an impartial investigation speaks to the personal connections and relationships that are prevalent in the small town. Despite the tragedy, the community is coming together to mourn the loss of a respected judge and address the issues of law enforcement conduct that have been brought to light by the shooting.
