The tragic killing of a Kentucky judge, allegedly by his long-time friend, the sheriff, is now being probed as a potential sex scandal, according to authorities.
Sheriff Shawn “Micky” Stines of Letcher County had been friends with Judge Kevin Mullins for decades and had lunch with him on the day of the incident. Later that day, Stines allegedly walked into Mullins’ courtroom and fatally shot him eight times.
Surveillance footage from inside the chambers captured the two men exchanging cellphones and viewing something on them before the shooting took place, as per sources cited by the Mountain Eagle.
“Our investigators have seized the two cell phones, and they are currently under analysis,” stated Kentucky State Police Trooper Matt Gayheart in an interview with the Daily Mail.
When asked if a possible sex scandal was being considered as a motive in the investigation, Trooper Gayheart confirmed, “Absolutely. We are exploring all possible motives.”
While details of the alleged sex scandal were not disclosed, the sheriff had recently been deposed in a lawsuit involving two women. One of the women claimed that a deputy had coerced her into a sexual relationship inside Mullins’ chambers for an extended period.
The lawsuit accused the sheriff of neglecting to properly train and supervise the deputy, Ben Fields, who later pleaded guilty to charges of rape. Fields was sentenced to jail time and probation for his crimes.
Stines had terminated Fields from his position as bailiff after the lawsuit was filed, as reported by The Courier Journal.
The relationship between Stines and Mullins, who had been friends for two decades, seemed amicable before the tragic event. They had collaborated on projects related to drug addiction and recovery in an effort to address the opioid crisis in their region.
Following the shooting, Stines surrendered and pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges.
With Post wires
