Letcher County Sheriff Charged with Courthouse Murder

Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines has been charged with first-degree murder following the shooting death of District Judge Kevin Mullins in his courthouse chambers in Whitesburg, Kentucky. The incident occurred after an argument between the two men, although the exact cause of the dispute remains unclear. Stines, responsible for courthouse security, surrendered without incident. The sheriff was previously accused in a federal lawsuit of failing to investigate claims of sexual abuse by his deputy, Ben Fields, who had assaulted a woman in the judge's chambers. Fields was sentenced to jail earlier this year for multiple charges including rape. The killing has deeply unsettled the small community of Whitesburg, leading to heightened calls for better courthouse security.