11 months ago
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(AP) — A Kentucky lawman stepped down Monday arsenic sheriff of the region wherever he’s accused of walking into a judge’s chambers and sidesplitting him successful a shooting that stunned their Appalachian community.
Shawn “Mickey” Stines’ departure from the Letcher County sheriff presumption aft a agelong vocation successful instrumentality enforcement was described arsenic a status by 1 of his attorneys, Kerri Bartley. His determination was not the effect of immoderate ultimatum oregon a concession to prosecutors’ allegations, she said.
“Rather, Sheriff Stines has made this determination to let for a successor to proceed to support his beloved constituents portion helium addresses the ineligible process up of him,” Bartley said successful a statement.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear had called connected Stines to resign and threatened to statesman a removal process if helium declined to bash so.
“Every Kentucky region needs an progressive and a moving sheriff,” the Democratic politician told reporters past week. “One of the astir important roles of authorities authorities is to supply information to our people. And close now, Letcher County doesn’t person an progressive and a moving sheriff.
The Letcher County judge-executive volition beryllium liable for appointing a caller sheriff, Beshear said.
Stines, 43, recently pleaded not guilty to execution and is scheduled to beryllium successful tribunal for a preliminary proceeding Tuesday. The preliminary probe indicated Stines changeable District Judge Kevin Mullins aggregate times pursuing an statement wrong the courthouse, according to Kentucky State Police.
No details astir a imaginable motive person been offered by police.
Mullins, 54, who held the judgeship for 15 years, died astatine the scene, and Stines surrendered. If convicted, helium could service 20 years to beingness successful prison. Since he’s accused of sidesplitting a nationalist official, helium could perchance look the decease penalty. Stines is being held successful different Kentucky county.
The Kentucky lawyer general’s bureau is collaborating with a peculiar authoritative successful the case.
The fatal shooting stunned the tight-knit municipality of Whitesburg, the Letcher County seat, with a colonisation of astir 1,700 adjacent the Virginia borderline successful southeastern Kentucky. At the judge’s ceremonial successful a precocious schoolhouse gym, helium was remembered for his nationalist service.
Those who cognize some the sheriff and the justice person had thing but praise for them, recalling however Mullins helped radical with substance maltreatment upset get attraction and however Stines led efforts to combat the opioid crisis. They worked unneurotic for years and were friends.
Stines’ lawyer said Monday that the now-former sheriff wanted to convey his staff, past and present, on with others who worked with him during his much than 22 years of service.
“He asks for your thoughts and prayers of enactment for him and his family; and asks that their privateness beryllium respected during the judicial process,” his lawyer said.
