Former Sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines charged with murder of Kentucky judge

Former Sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines has been charged with murder two months after video showed him shooting a Kentucky judge at point-blank range in his office.

In the indictment unsealed jointly by state and local prosecutors, Stines is accused of shooting and killing Letcher County District Court Judge Kevin Mullins. Stines is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, November 25.

RELATED STORY | Video shows Kentucky judge trying to hide after being shot in his chambers

At a potential hearing in October, prosecutors showed silent video of Stines entering the judge’s office with a gun and firing repeatedly at the victim as he frantically tried to escape from under his desk.

Stines, who was sheriff at the time of the shooting, resigned Oct. 1, hours before appearing in court to plead guilty to murder charges.

RELATED STORY | Kentucky sheriff accused of fatally shooting a judge pleads not guilty in first trial

Investigators have not offered any potential motive for the murder. Those who knew Stines and Mullins said the two had worked together for years and were friends.

To date, prosecutors have not announced whether they will seek the death penalty.

This story was first published by Lauren Silver at: Court television.