Governor asks Letcher County sheriff accused of murder to resign in letter

LETCHER COUNTY, Ky. (WJHL) — Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has formally asked Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Mickey Stines to resign from his position following his arrest for the alleged murder of a judge.

Stines has been charged with first-degree murder in the Sept. 19 shooting death of district judge Kevin Mullins.

On Wednesday, a letter from Beshear’s office and Kentucky General Counsel S. Travis Mayo was sent to Stines. As of Wednesday, Stines remains in the Leslie County Detention Center.

The letter asks that Stines tender his resignation as sheriff to the Letcher County Judge/Executive by the end of Friday.

“If you do not tender your resignation, the Governor will move forward with removal under KRS 63.100,” the letter reads.

The county attorney for Letcher County previously told News Channel 11 that procedures were in place to remove Stines from his position if he did not resign.

Stines was arraigned in Carter County, Kentucky court on Wednesday morning over Zoom. Stines pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder charge.

During the arrangement, public attorney Josh Miller was appointed as Stines’ public defender. Miller told Judge Rupert Wilhoit that Stines believes he will soon lose his job as sheriff, which was why he requested a public defender.

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