A former sheriff from Kentucky is facing a charge of murder connected to the fatal shooting of a local judge, and he entered a not guilty plea on Monday. This event occurred in the same courthouse where the two had a long-standing professional relationship, underscoring the shocking nature of the incident.

Shawn “Mickey” Stines, formerly the sheriff of Letcher County, was indicted by a grand jury last week on a single charge of murdering a public official. His resignation followed a tragic incident on September 19 at the courthouse located in Whitesburg, approximately 100 miles southeast of Lexington, close to the Virginia state line.

During his court appearance, no bond was established for Stines, meaning he will continue to remain incarcerated in a different county. The presiding judge expressed “community safety concerns” as well as the gravity of the charges against him as reasons for denying bond. Stines appeared in court wearing a gray jail uniform.

The accusation against him involves the tragic shooting of District Judge Kevin Mullins, who had served in his role for 15 years, within the confines of his own chambers. Judge Mullins succumbed to injuries at the location of the incident, and Stines reportedly surrendered to authorities without resistance. Should he be found guilty of the murder charge, Stines may face the death penalty.

Authorities have not disclosed any motive behind the shooting. A video presented during a previous court hearing depicted the harrowing incident, showing a man identified by police as Stines pulling out a firearm and shooting the judge while he was seated at his desk. As Judge Mullins fell to the floor, Stines reportedly approached and fired again. Observers in the courtroom were visibly shaken, with some breaking into tears during the footage playback.

Detectives reported that Mullins died from a series of gunshot wounds. It was also revealed during testimony that Stines had attempted to contact his daughter using both Mullins’ and his own phone just prior to the shooting. Investigations yielded no weapon located on Judge Mullins or within his chambers. Prior to the tragic event, Mullins and Stines had been seen sharing lunch with several individuals at a restaurant in proximity to the courthouse.