Former Sheriff Accused of Killing Judge Files Motion to Dismiss Indictment
Attorneys for Mickey Stines, the former Letcher County, Kentucky sheriff charged with murdering District Judge Kevin Mullins, are arguing that the state of Kentucky botched grand jury proceedings against their client. According to a report, the attorneys have filed a motion to have their client’s indictment dismissed, citing the state’s failure to record a November 2024 meeting between state prosecutors and the Letcher County grand jury that resulted in Stines’ indictment.
The legal team representing Stines says the grand jury was deprived of information known to the Commonwealth, sought in question by grand jurors, but not disclosed. The motion filed by attorney duo Jeremy and Kerri Bartley states that the grand jury was denied information about an ongoing civil lawsuit in which Stines is a defendant, which could provide context for the shooting. Additionally, they claim that testimony from Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper, the lead investigator, was unfairly prejudicial.
Allegations of sexual abuse have been longstanding at the Letcher County Courthouse, and the motion highlights that these claims have played a role in the case. Just three days before the shooting, Stines was deposed in a civil case against his former deputy, Ben Fields, who is serving prison time for raping a woman inside the courthouse in exchange for removing her ankle monitor while she was on home confinement during criminal proceedings.
Jeremy Bartley told Fox News Digital that Stines had feared for the safety of his wife and daughter, believing they were in danger due to the events that occurred within the courthouse. Bartley explained that Stines had attempted to contact his wife and daughter the day of the shooting, convinced they were in harm’s way.
Body camera footage from the aftermath of the shooting shows a paranoid Stines, who appeared fearful for his life while being questioned by police. Stines can be heard saying,