On September 19, a 911 call in Letcher County, Kentucky, set off alarm bells. The caller’s urgent voice made it clear that something serious had happened.
“I’ve got an emergency at the courthouse,” the caller said. “I need an ambulance here right now.”
When the dispatcher asked what had happened, the chilling reply came: “Judge has been shot.”
The events unfolded at the Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg. Shawn Stines, 44, who was the sheriff of Letcher County at the time, allegedly entered the courthouse that afternoon. According to authorities, he told people inside he needed to speak privately with Judge Kevin Mullins. The two went into the judge’s chambers.
What happened next was tragic. Inside the chambers, the men reportedly got into an argument. Investigators say Stines then pulled out a gun and shot Judge Mullins several times before surrendering to law enforcement.
The case took an even more complicated turn as Stines’ legal team began building a defense. His attorney, Jeremy Bartley, pointed to another criminal case that might have played a role in the incident. In that case, a woman named Sabrina Adkins claimed she had seen video footage of Judge Mullins engaging in inappropriate behavior—specifically, having sexual relationships with women in exchange for favorable treatment in court.
Adkins, who was herself facing charges and placed on house arrest, filed a federal lawsuit in January 2022. Just three days before the shooting, Stines had been questioned under oath in connection with this ongoing case.
“I saw Judge Mullins having sex with a girl … in the judge’s chambers,” Adkins told investigators during a separate inquiry involving Ben Fields, one of Stines’ former deputies. She also said she had been involved with Fields in a similar setting.
The shocking details surrounding the case have drawn significant attention to Whitesburg. As authorities continue their investigation, Stines’ actions and the allegations against Judge Mullins are under intense scrutiny. The community remains shaken by the events that unfolded in what was supposed to be a place of justice and order.
