Accused sheriff seen in courthouse for first time since murder

The Kentucky sheriff accused of shooting a district judge in his courtroom pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder on Wednesday. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, 43, made his first public appearance since the shooting last week, accompanied by a public defender. Stines is being held in a Leslie County jail and appeared before a judge via video link. The sheriff is believed to have shot District Judge Kevin D. Mullins, 54, multiple times in his office last week before surrendering to authorities without incident. Mullins was pronounced dead by first responders at the scene. Stines faces life in prison if found guilty and possibly the death penalty for killing a public official. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear sent Stines a letter in prison urging him to resign as sheriff, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported. The governor plans to “move forward” with Stines’ impeachment. Investigators have not yet released a motive for the shooting, and locals in Whitesburg, Kentucky, told the Courier-Journal that Mullins and Stines were friends and colleagues – with the sheriff having previously served as the judge’s bailiff.