Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines. (Leslie County Detention Center)
The Eastern Kentucky sheriff charged with murdering a judge entered a not guilty plea Wednesday and was put on notice by Gov. Andy Beshear that if he does not resign by Friday the governor will act to remove him.
District Judge Kevin R. Mullins
Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, 43, appeared remotely for his first appearance since District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, was gunned down Sept. 19 at the Letcher County Courthouse. Stines surrendered to authorities at the courthouse and was charged with first degree murder.
Stines told Special Judge Rupert Wilhoit III he does not have a lawyer but was accompanied by attorney Josh Miller, director of the state Department of Public Advocacy’s capital trial branch.
Beshear’s office on Wednesday released a letter to Stines from its general counsel, C. Travis Mayo, sent in care of the Leslie County jailer. The letter asks Stines to tender his resignation by Friday, and says that if he does not, Beshear will “move forward with removal” under a Kentucky law.
Stines is jailed at the Leslie County Detention Center.