Former Kentucky sheriff charged with murder of judge files emergency appeal seeking bond
Published in News & Features
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Attorneys for former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines filed an emergency appeal Friday to try to get Stines a bond after a judge rejected his request earlier this month.
Warren Circuit Judge Christopher Cohron, who was appointed as a special judge in the case, ruled Aug. 13 that Stines has to be held without bond until his case is over. Stines, 45, is charged with shooting and killing Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins in Mullins’ chambers in September 2024.
Stines’ attorney filed an emergency appeal against the bond decision Friday, asking that Stines’ be granted a chance to post a bail and be out of jail while he awaits trial.
The shooting was captured on video, which has been shared widely.
“For the purpose of bail, the Court finds that the proof of guilt is evident and the presumption of guilt is great in this matter,” Cohron wrote in his order denying Stines a bond. “Therefore, the Court orders the defendant shall be held without bail pending adjudication of the case.”
In the same order, Cohron ordered that the trial be moved out of Letcher County.
Stines’ attorney has previously requested that if Stines was granted a bail, that the amount be set at $50,000.
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