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Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines has entered a not guilty plea to charges of first-degree murder following the death of Kentucky District Judge Kevin Mullins. Stines, 43, is accused of fatally shooting Judge Mullins, 54, inside his chambers at the Letcher County Courthouse last Thursday. The incident has shocked the small community, as the two men were known as respected figures in the area.

According to Kentucky State Police, the shooting occurred after an argument inside the courthouse. Despite investigators still seeking a clear motive, it has been revealed that the sheriff and the judge had shared lunch together the same day of the incident. The tension between the two men escalated, leading to the tragic event later in the day.

During his first court appearance on Wednesday, Stines showed no visible emotion and appeared over Zoom dressed in a jail uniform. His public defender entered the not guilty plea on his behalf. Judge Mullins was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds after a 911 call reported shots fired in the courthouse, and Stines was taken into custody without resistance. It remains unclear whether the weapon used in the shooting was Stines’ duty firearm.

The timeline leading up to the shooting days includes a noteworthy deposition in which Stines was involved. He was deposed regarding a lawsuit alleging his failure to investigate claims that a deputy under his command had sexually abused a woman in Mullins' chambers. This deposition took place just days before the courthouse shooting.

Mike Watts, Letcher County Circuit Clerk, expressed his disbelief over the incident, describing both men as pillars of the community. "You'd never dream that anything like this is ever going to happen in your small town," Watts said. He had known both men for decades and considered them both friends and work family, seeing them almost daily in the courthouse.

The case against Sheriff Stines is unfolding, as the community grapples with the loss of a prominent judge and the serious charges against another respected public figure.