Attorney questions indictment of former Ky. sheriff in judge’s death, moves to dismiss

WHITESBURG, Ky. (FOX 56) — Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines’ attorney has moved for the court to dismiss this indictment against their client.

A grand jury returned an indictment in the shooting death of District Judge Kevin Mullins in November 2024. Investigators believe that Stines pulled the trigger.

In a June 4 motion, attorney Jeremy Barltley claimed that a grand jury meeting wasn’t documented properly.

“There was no mechanical failure; the Commonwealth chose not to record its meeting with the grand jury,” Bartley wrote.

The Commonwealth reportedly said the meeting was only to obtain grand jury subpoenas for the case, but Bartley argued that despite whether the meeting was sworn or not, the information provided to the grand jury “constitutes testimony and should have been recorded.”

Further, Bartley claimed that the grand jury was denied access to certain information that, had they heard it in testimony, could have rendered a different result.

“Approximately twelve of the twenty-five minutes of the hearing was consumed by grand juror questions,” Bartley wrote. “It is evident that despite seeing a portion of the video evidence, the grand jury sought additional information to make their decision on whether to indict and upon what charge.”

He argued that “known information” from a civil case Stines was involved in and mental health information was withheld from grand jurors, or their questions weren’t adequately answered.

Further, he requested that a bond hearing be set. This request was previously declined in November 2024, but Bartley argued that all prisoners in Kentucky should be entitled to bail.

“He has a wife, children, grandchildren, and a host of friends who remain supportive of him,” Bartley wrote.

He cited Stines’ “strong ties to the community,” lack of a prior criminal record, and family support as evidence the former sheriff would be compliant with the court’s conditions.

Stines is set to undergo a mental evaluation sometime in June.