New charge for KY sheriff accused of murdering district judge

The former Letcher County, KY sheriff accused of killing a district judge in his chambers in September appeared in front of a packed courtroom on Monday. Shawn Mickey Stines was indicted on November 21 on a new charge of murder of a public official in the death of district judge Kevin Mullins. He was arraigned in person on the new charge Monday. Retired Judge Julia H. Adams presided over the arraignment. A new judge will take over the case in the near future. Stines entered a not-guilty plea and Judge Adams said after “significant consideration,” she would not admit Stines a bond. Stines was arrested after Mullins was fatally shot inside the Letcher County courthouse on Sept. 19. At that time, Stines was charged with first-degree murder and later pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder charge on September 25.