A court filing has revealed that Shawn Stines, the former Kentucky sheriff accused of murdering District Judge Kevin Mullins in his office, plans to present an insanity defense. While video footage exists of the moment Stines shot Mullins, there is no clear motive behind the alleged murder.
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The court filing, which was filed on February 27, 2025, details that the defendant, Shawn Stines, "intends to present expert evidence relating to a mental disease or defect or mental condition bearing on the issue of guilt and punishment."
Moreover, the filing stated that Stines "intends to present a defense of insanity, as well as a defense of extreme emotional disturbance." In a section titled "Support for Attendance of Expert," the filing stated that Stines is entitled to expert participation should "the Commonwealth elects to request an examination" for both "incompetency to stand trial" and "insanity."
As per the Daily Mail, Stines's defense had hinted before that they planned to plead not guilty on the grounds of insanity. However, a "extreme emotional disturbance" could possibly give way to an explanation behind Stines's state of mind.
Jeremy Bartley, Stines's defense attorney, has previously stated that Shawn Stines was fearful of possible backlash stemming from a deposition. Days before the shooting, Stines was deposed and asked questions about former Deputy Sheriff Ben Fields.
Deposition
Fields was convicted of sexually assaulting inmates. One of the accusers in Fields's case accused him of forcing her to have sex with him in Mullins's chambers. In exchange, the accuser would stay out of jail. As per Fox News Digital, Stines was accused at the time of "deliberate indifference in failing to adequately train and supervise."
Bartley believes that this client, Shawn Stines, was struggling with mental health issues following the deposition. Reportedly, he feared for himself and his family. "Ultimately, he was in fear for the safety of his wife and his daughter," Bartley said. "And I think what you see there is the result of that."
Kevin Stines allegedly murdered Mullins in his office on September 19, 2024. As he was taken into custody, Stines reportedly said that someone was "trying to kidnap" his wife and kid.
The motive for Stines's alleged murder of Kevin Mullins remains unclear. One theory, as per the Daily Mail, is that Shawn Stines discovered his daughter's phone number in Mullins's phone. Reportedly, both Stines and Mullins looked at each other's phones before the shooting. Moreover, as per Fox 56, Stines made calls to his daughter from Mullins's chamber using his and Mullins's cell phone.
