Lawyers prosecuting a Kentucky sheriff accused of fatally shooting a judge have amassed a “tremendous” amount of evidence that could take up to six months to review.
Former Letcher County Sheriff Sean “Mickey” Stines appeared in virtual court Friday for a status hearing with his attorneys from the Leslie County Detention Center, where he has been confined since his arrest.
Stines, 44, was charged with one count of murder of a public servant after he was captured on video pointing a gun at District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, inside the clerk's office on September 19, 2024. Ta.
The former law officer had lunch with Mullins hours before he allegedly shot his longtime friend eight times.
The murder suspect was wearing a gray jumpsuit and sat silently behind his attorney during the hearing, according to court video. Obtained by CourtTV.
Defense attorney Jeremy Bartley told Circuit Court Judge Christopher Colon that he had received a “tremendous” amount of evidence from prosecutors in the case and was currently reviewing it.
Colon was appointed as a special judge in the case last month.
Prosecutor Jackie Steele said the state is still discovering additional evidence in the case, which could take six months to review.
“We still have some things coming in and being tested. I think we'll have all the discovery and testing done within the next four to six months,” Steele said during Friday's hearing.
Neither side disclosed what type of evidence would be used in the pending trial.
Chilling video from inside Mullins' office shows what appears to be a heated conversation between the two men before Steins pulls out a gun and points it at the judge's head. Ta.
Mullins, who was sitting behind a desk, raised his hands in fear and was about to turn away when Steins allegedly fired eight shots at him, the video showed.
The footage was shown to prosecutors during a preliminary court hearing in October.
Stines turned himself in to authorities without incident and resigned as sheriff's office 11 days later.
Investigators have not revealed the motive behind Wills' killing, but authorities have previously suggested that a “sex scandal” may have contributed to the killing.
A grand jury indicted Stines in November.
During the hearing, Bartley indicated that he would seek bail for Stines at a later court appearance.
Efforts to release the former sheriff's bail had stalled until Mr. Colon was appointed to the case.
If Stines is found guilty, he could face the death penalty.
with post wire
