Court documents reveal why ex-Kentucky sheriff called daughter before shooting judge

WHITESBURG, Ky. (FOX 56) — Multiple witnesses reportedly believe the former Letcher County sheriff was experiencing psychosis during the fatal shooting of Judge Kevin Mullins almost a year ago.

Shots rang out inside the Letcher County courthouse on Sept. 19, 2024, killing the 54-year-old district judge. Kentucky State Police said former sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines is the one who pulled the trigger. The entire exchange was captured by security cameras.

For nearly a year, questions have loomed regarding why the sheriff decided to do what he's accused of. His attorney Jeremey Bartley has continuously pointed to a civil case involving sheriff's deputies, the judge's chambers, and a reported sex for favors scheme.

"It’s like they were running a brothel out of that courtroom," Attorney Ned Pillersdorf said.

But the extent of Mullins' involvement has long been questioned. Since the shooting, three women have come out stating they witnessed the judge participating, or were one of his alleged victims.

“I’ve had sex with him in the chambers,” Tya Adams said. “I was part of it. I was one of them.”

Stines was deposed three days before the shooting in relation to the sex-for-favors reports after having to terminate one of his deputies for his involvement that dated back to 2021.

According to court documents, investigators interviewed Attorney Daniel Dotson the day after the shooting. Dotson reportedly testified that he urged Stines to seek help.

"Dotson also told the KSP that he spoke to Kevin Mullins and told him that Mickey was 'losing it' and 'couldn’t take this kind of pressure' in reference to the Civil suit involving 'some crack whore wanting money,'" Bartley wrote.

The pair had reportedly spoken the night before Mullins' death, and Dotson recalled telling his wife that "that son of a [expletive] has lost his mind," referencing Stines.

Christine Bolling, a Letcher County Sheriff's Office staff member, was concerned about his "very strange behavior." Specifically, also on Sept. 18, court documents state that Stines told Bolling that "Daniel Dotson had told him to give him money and kill himself or 'they' were going to kill," Stines' wife and daughter.

The sheriff then insisted that he went home to check on his family, made her get his bulletproof vest on, and had someone call to check on his daughter, per court documents. This is all reportedly captured on Ring camera footage.

Witnesses said that he was also making phone calls on the day of the shooting to check on family members who had been deceased for years.

FOX 56 previously reported that in the security camera footage of the shooting, just moments before pulling the trigger, Stines uses his and the judge's cell phone to make calls to his daughter. Moments after the calls were made, the video shows the sheriff standing from his chair and proceeding to point a gun at the judge, shooting Mullins several times.

Why Stines called his daughter has long been questioned. Bartley affirms that the sheriff was in fear for the lives of his wife and daughter.

It's unclear if there is any merit to Dotson's alleged threat.

Body camera footage obtained by FOX News Digital shows Stines appearing paranoid, pleading not to be shot and killed shortly after he was taken into custody. His legs are trembling as he scans the area around him.

“I leave this building, I won’t take another breath,” Stines pleaded.

Bartley noted that medical records show evaluations that observed signs of "active psychosis."

Despite this, detectives testified to a Letcher County grand jury that it's believed Stines was sane at the time of the shooting, and that Mullins had no involvement in the civil case to their knowledge.

Mullins was never criminally charged in connection with the acts that reportedly occurred inside his chambers.

Bartley hopes that the indictment against his client will be dismissed based on information reportedly withheld from the grand jurors. It's only one of the many motions filed on Sept. 2.

Among them were arguments against a change of venue, unsealing his mental evaluation, and setting bond.

Prosecutors believe that the trial should be moved from Letcher County to ensure the securing of an impartial jury.

“This case is unique in that the scene of the crime happens to be the courthouse in which the Defendant is reporting for pretrial conferences, status hearings, and could potentially be tried in,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Jackie Steele wrote.

But Bartley argued that Letcher County, or its surrounding areas, would be the only way to accurately reflect a jury of his peers, and due to widespread, worldwide coverage, moving the trial would taint his right to a fair and impartial jury.

A judge hasn't issued an order on the motions at this time. Bartley hopes that the motions will be heard at an evidentiary hearing. A date has yet to be set.