A former sheriff in Kentucky has admitted to fatally shooting a judge inside a courthouse, as revealed in recent court documents. The defense, however, is focusing on a claim of insanity as the case progresses toward trial.
Sean “Mickey” Stines, who stepped down as the Letcher County Sheriff after the murder in September 2024, acknowledged in a legal filing that he shot District Judge Kevin Mullins during an incident at the courthouse in Whitesburg. This information was reported by the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Surveillance footage shows a man, identified as Stines by police, pulling out a firearm and shooting at Judge Mullins while the judge was at his desk. The suspect approached the desk, aimed the gun, and fired multiple shots. Stines faces charges of first-degree murder and killing a public servant.
His confession comes alongside efforts from his legal team to demonstrate that he was experiencing severe mental illness at the time of the shooting. They are preparing a comprehensive insanity defense, as reported in the paper.
A social worker who met Stines in prison shortly after the incident indicated that he was in an “advanced state of psychosis” and didn’t grasp the severity of his charges. There was even a report of him having a “belligerent episode” that necessitated pepper spray.
Earlier, Stines claimed in a statement to investigators that he had been suffering from various symptoms, including dizziness and memory loss, attributed to California encephalitis—a brain infection from insect bites.
The prosecution has not made any comments regarding the latest court filings. Stines’ attorneys are seeking to keep some of his psychiatric evaluations confidential, a request that has recently gained judicial support.
Stines resigned from his role as sheriff shortly after the shooting and is currently being held without bail in eastern Kentucky.
Kentucky law states that if someone can prove mental incompetence or extreme emotional distress, it could potentially preclude the death penalty in Stines’ case. Nonetheless, this civil aspect seems different—Judge Mullins’ widow filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Stines and several Letcher County Sheriff’s Office employees in September.
Kimberly Mullins, along with their children, has accused Stines of assault and battery, while three other sheriff’s officials are alleged to have failed to notice Stines’ anxious, paranoid, and psychotic behavior.
In response to the civil suit, Stines reportedly acknowledged that he shot Judge Mullins and mentioned he was “exhibiting delusional and psychotic behavior” at that time.
Stines’ attorneys have argued for the dismissal of the lawsuit based on sovereign immunity, which shields government officials from civil liability when performing their official duties. They also requested that negligence claims be dropped, asserting that intent needs to be shown in such accusations.
According to his attorney, “As sheriff, he is entitled to the same sovereign immunity afforded to the county itself because he was a county employee.”
Stines’ lawyer has elaborated on possible defenses regarding his mental condition at the time of the incident, claiming he was “out of control” and had a “pre-existing medical condition.”
A judge recently turned down two motions to dismiss the criminal charges against Stines. However, his defense argued that prosecutors did not inform the grand jury about his mental state and that the proceedings were not properly documented.
