Kentucky sheriff accused of gunning down judge in court pleads not guilty

A Kentucky sheriff accused of gunning down a judge in his own courtroom pleaded not guilty to the murder on Wednesday — while a possible motive for the killing that has rocked the small town remains a mystery.

Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, 43, is suspected of killing 54-year-old Judge Kevin Mullins in his Whitesville courthouse on Thursday, leaving the lawyer riddled with bullets in the office where he worked for 15 years.

Prosecutors did not give a motive for the alleged murder in their charges, but earlier reports said the two – who had known each other well for years in their small town – had gotten into some sort of argument before the shooting.

According to CNN, Stines remains behind bars and is being held without bail.

That afternoon, shots were fired at the courthouse, about 150 miles southeast of Lexington, just hours after the two reportedly had lunch together.

When police arrived at the scene and discovered Mullins' body, several nearby schools were cordoned off.

Just days earlier, Stines was deposed in federal court following a lawsuit over whether his office had adequately investigated allegations of sexual assault against a deputy sheriff.

This deputy was accused of offering sexual favors from a woman in exchange for house arrest instead of prison – and those sexual favors allegedly took place in Judge Mullins' office, according to Fox 19 Now.

Regardless of whether Stines is guilty or innocent, his position as sheriff is in jeopardy because his office has been given responsibility for the security of the courthouse and its judges, CNN reported.

“From what I understand, he is obviously about to lose his job as sheriff of Letcher County and will have no income in the future,” public defender Josh Miller said during the arraignment.

Stines is charged with first-degree murder. He has been sheriff of Letcher County since 2018.