Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024 # 3

[OldAce]

I'm reminded of Yellowstone, episode 11 and a convo between Lloyd and Rip:

L: "We getting in this fight?"

R: "If we can figure out who to fight and how to fight."

R: "Going to prison for the rest of our lives doesn’t solve anything."

IMO, elected officials such as Sheriff Stines should be held to a higher standard. Going rogue because you had a bad day, or argued with your spouse, doesn't cut it! No excuse. JMO.

As I have said and have occasion to repeat. The judge is dead and buried. The Sherriff shot him, it is documented.

My only concern here is what caused the sheriffs to feel he needed to do this. <modsnip> I will wait to see what a trial (if it makes it that far) reveals as his reasoning.
Edit...
Really good thing the sheriff is in jail in KY. Were he here before us in person, I fear he would have been lynched 2 weeks ago. There is no question as to his guilt, but lets have a jury rule on it. It is the American way.. (Or used to be.)

 

[weedemout]

What's going on with this case? It's gotten quiet.

 

[Seattle1]

Really good thing the sheriff is in jail in KY. Were he here before us in person, I fear he would have been lynched 2 weeks ago. There is no question as to his guilt, but lets have a jury rule on it. It is the American way.. (Or used to be.)

I've seen nothing coming from Letcher County that indicates former Sheriff Stines would be lynched!

IMO, it's quite the opposite. So much so that his defense wants his case tried in Letcher County-- hardly the defense move of somebody who believes his client in danger in his hometown.

The world witnessed an intentional, cowardly act when the video was released. And I doubt we ever learn why. JMO


A venue for the case has not yet been determined, which Bartley referred to as "the elephant in the room." While Steele declined to speculate, Bartley wants the trial to take place in Letcher County.

Earlier deposition may play role in defense for sheriff in judge shooting, lawyer says

More than two months after the fatal shooting of Letcher County Judge Kevin Mullins, ex-Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines was back in court Monday.

www.courier-journal.com

 

[tlcya]

Here is the News Nation report with the reporter who stated there was a problem at home with the Sheriff.

Interesting. Hadn't seen this and wonder if the info relayed at the 3:10 minute mark is accurate? Reporter states that Stines was having domestic problems, that he had been kicked out of his house the night prior to the shooting. Sounds as if trouble at home combined with stress over the civil suit and the deposition combined to create Stines' state of mind on the day in question.

 

[NervousNellie]

Interesting. Hadn't seen this and wonder if the info relayed at the 3:10 minute mark is accurate? Reporter states that Stines was having domestic problems, that he had been kicked out of his house the night prior to the shooting. Sounds as if trouble at home combined with stress over the civil suit and the deposition combined to create Stines' state of mind on the day in question.

I know we can't rely on media to be 100% (or even 75%) accurate, but this rings true to me. No one has denied it, and it would make no sense to publish that information if it were not verified.

 

[tlcya]

In the news nation video Tricia posted above, I also note that people who were present at the lunch said that Stines attempted to discuss something unknown with Mullins which is when Mullins asked Stines do we need to meet in my chambers (ie. privately) to discuss this.

Causes me to wonder if the sheriff wanted to discuss his home situation and his having been asked to leave said home. Maybe he was seeking advice from the judge about that domestic situation. Maybe the judge gave him advice he didn't want to necessarily hear or didn't particularly agree with. Or perhaps he requested the judge do something the judge could not ethically agree to do and that response angered. Perhaps it was the last straw perhaps on top of a really bad couple of weeks.

 

[Seattle1]

Dec 4, 2024...

Shawn Stines News Updates | Court TV

Letcher County Sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines is accused of fatally shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins in chambers following an argument.

www.courttv.com

 

[Seattle1]

In the news nation video Tricia posted above, I also note that people who were present at the lunch said that Stines attempted to discuss something unknown with Mullins which is when Mullins asked Stines do we need to meet in my chambers (ie. privately) to discuss this.

Causes me to wonder if the sheriff wanted to discuss his home situation and his having been asked to leave said home. Maybe he was seeking advice from the judge about that domestic situation. Maybe the judge gave him advice he didn't want to necessarily hear or didn't particularly agree with. Or perhaps he requested the judge do something the judge could not ethically agree to do and that response angered. Perhaps it was the last straw perhaps on top of a really bad couple of weeks.

I think this is as close to motive as we might get. Experts have all opined that Stines left everything out there in his assassination of Judge Mullins on camera-- a very personal murder.

I don't think the civil deposition or two year old deputy Fields case had anything to do with the murder of Mullins-- nor does the plaintiff's attorney (Ned B. Pillersdorf),who has talked to Court TV several times. Pillersdorf anticipates being called as a witness. JMO

Shawn Stines News Updates | Court TV

Letcher County Sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines is accused of fatally shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins in chambers following an argument.

www.courttv.com

 

[tlcya]

I think this is as close to motive as we might get. Experts have all opined that Stines left everything out there in his assassination of Judge Mullins on camera-- a very personal murder.

I don't think the civil deposition or two year old deputy Fields case had anything to do with the murder of Mullins-- nor does the plaintiff's attorney (Ned B. Pillersdorf),who has talked to Court TV several times. Pillersdorf anticipates being called as a witness. JMO

Shawn Stines News Updates | Court TV

Letcher County Sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines is accused of fatally shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins in chambers following an argument.

www.courttv.com

agree, I think that deposition only peripherally added to existing homelife stressors to create a man who felt he had nothing to lose anymore.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

In the news nation video Tricia posted above, I also note that people who were present at the lunch said that Stines attempted to discuss something unknown with Mullins which is when Mullins asked Stines do we need to meet in my chambers (ie. privately) to discuss this.

Causes me to wonder if the sheriff wanted to discuss his home situation and his having been asked to leave said home. Maybe he was seeking advice from the judge about that domestic situation. Maybe the judge gave him advice he didn't want to necessarily hear or didn't particularly agree with. Or perhaps he requested the judge do something the judge could not ethically agree to do and that response angered. Perhaps it was the last straw perhaps on top of a really bad couple of weeks.

My theory is that at lunch, Stines was trying to get info from Mullins to confirm his(Stines') suspicion about whatever Mullins had done (or that Stines suspected him of doing).

Apparently that was something involving Stines' family life, hence the elevated emotional state.

Once they were in chambers, Stines saw/heard whatever he needed to confirm, at least in his own mind, his suspicions about the judge, and he let his emotions control his actions after that.

All MOO.

 

[tlcya]

Weiner’s sources tell NewsNation that Stines and his wife “had some sort of a dispute” the night before Mullins was fatally shot in his chambers. The spat put him out of the house for the night.

“That was the reason that he was in plainclothes, because he wasn’t able to have a uniform wherever he was,” Weiner said.
[snip]
When the sheriff attempted to bring up a sensitive subject, the judge reportedly stopped him and said, “Let’s talk about it in chambers. Come by after lunch.”
https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/mid-south/kentucky-sheriff-shooting-updates/

 

[Rosiebones]

Because the shooting occurred the day after Stines's family put him out of the house I tried to think of the reasons that happened.
infidelity
physical/emotional abuse
erratic and unpredictable behaviors
substance abuse
Where did he spend the night? If in his car/truck then he probably did not sleep and spent the night thinking and his emotional distress only deepened. I still believe that wife/daughter were seeking help and guidance as to how to manage Stine's behavior.
Why did they put him out? Exasperation or tough love or fear?
MOO MOO MOO MOO

 

[tlcya]

I don't know if I believe Stines wife and daughter wanted Mullins to intervene on their behalf. I am still of the opinion Mullins had not been in prior contact with said daughter prior to the shooting. I think Stines wanted the judge to mediate or intervene in some way on his behalf in the domestic squabble and the judge said I can't ethically do that. JMO

 

[loveplace]

I don't know if I believe Stines wife and daughter wanted Mullins to intervene on their behalf. I am still of the opinion Mullins had not been in prior contact with said daughter prior to the shooting. I think Stines wanted the judge to mediate or intervene in some way on his behalf in the domestic squabble and the judge said I can't ethically do that. JMO

That would make so much more sense to me. JMO.

 

[Argonaut]

What's going on with this case? It's gotten quiet.

It's about to come alive.

 

[Spyderlady]

It's about to come alive.

You're right... I just watched Banfield.

 

[Seattle1]

You're right... I just watched Banfield.

I think these are important names to watch for regarding the sex for favors criminal indictment which did not touch Judge Mullins-- nor Stines for that matter.

IMO, Banfield's report (i.e., recorded allegations from Fields victim (plaintiff in the civil suit) seem to be based more on rumor than fact. In more than two years, I haven't found any local or national MSM publish and/or repeat similar allegations about Mullins.

Detective Matthew Easter investigated the case on behalf of the Attorney General’s Office. Assistant Attorneys General Barbara Whaley and Tim Cocanougher presented the case before the Letcher County grand jury on behalf of the state.

Letcher County deputy indicted on multiple charges

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced Thursday that action by his Special Prosecutions Unit resulted in the indictment of a former Letcher County Deputy Sheriff for rape,

www.kentuckytoday.com

 

[fsngruv]

You're right... I just watched Banfield.

Do you mind sharing a link? I'm not sure what you are referencing? I'm about to go Google, but I figured I might not be the only one who would need to do that after reading the comment, and I would like to know what you are referencing for discussion.

Eta: I look forward to any link because I've had zero luck in my googling!!

 

[darring21]

Do you mind sharing a link? I'm not sure what you are referencing? I'm about to go Google, but I figured I might not be the only one who would need to do that after reading the comment, and I would like to know what you are referencing for discussion.

Eta: I look forward to any link because I've had zero luck in my googling!!

NewsNation on youtube.

 

[Seattle1]

Do you mind sharing a link? I'm not sure what you are referencing? I'm about to go Google, but I figured I might not be the only one who would need to do that after reading the comment, and I would like to know what you are referencing for discussion.

Eta: I look forward to any link because I've had zero luck in my googling!!

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