Kentucky sheriff accused of gunning down judge is retiring, lawyer says
A lawyer for the Kentucky sheriff accused of fatally shooting a judge in his chambers announced the law enforcement official’s retirement.
A lawyer for the Kentucky sheriff accused of fatally shooting a judge in his chambers announced the sheriff’s retirement Monday after the governor threatened to remove him from office.
In a statement, the lawyer for Shawn “Mickey” Stines, 43, said the decision was effective immediately and was not a concession to the first-degree murder charge Stines faces in connection with the shooting of Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins at a courthouse in Whitesburg on Sept. 19.
“Rather, Sheriff Stines has made this decision to allow for a successor to continue to protect his beloved constituents while he addresses the legal process ahead of him,” said the lawyer, Jeremy Bartley.
In a letter dated Wednesday, the general counsel for Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told Stines he had until Friday to resign or face removal proceedings under a state law that allows governors to fire peace officers for neglect.
Stines pleaded not guilty to the murder charge last week.
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