Former Kentucky sheriff in active psychosis days after shooting judge, records say

Taylor Six, Lexington Herald-Leader on Sep 3, 2025

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines was still in active psychosis days after a shooting that killed a district judge, according to a jail’s medical intake form.

On Sept. 23, four days after Stines shot and killed Judge Kevin Mullins, a medical staff member at the Leslie County Detention Center noted Stines was still in an active state of psychosis.

Psychosis is defined as an episode when a person has difficulty distinguishing what is real from what is not, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

“Upon evaluation of Mr. Stines, it appears that he is still in an active state of psychosis,” the form reads. “He appears disoriented and is only aware of things jail staff tell him. He has no recollection of the recent past.”

Stines, 44, is charged with shooting and killing Mullins on Sept. 19, 2024 inside Mullins’ chambers at the county courthouse. The shooting and the minutes before it were captured on video and released by the Kentucky State Police through an open records request.

The medical intake form was released in recent court documents the defense published in an effort to dismiss Stines’ indictment or have his bond significantly lowered. His attorneys have requested that his mental health evaluation be unsealed.

The intake form was released the same day prosecutors requested a change of venue for Stines’ trial.

However, it was later removed as an exhibit from online court records. The Herald-Leader viewed these documents before they were removed.

A judge also sealed 26 pages of the motion to dismiss the indictment after it had been sent out to news media.

The intake form was completed by video, and noted that Stines felt hopeless, abandoned, disconnected to family and had a lack of resilience.

The form also noted Stines’ self-care had deteriorated. Specifically, Stines was refusing to take some medications.

According to the intake form, the nurse noted Stines was currently experiencing “major depressive disorder,” acute anxiety and distress.

The nurse’s notes went on to read that Stines was experiencing paranoia because he was unsure of where he was. He did not appear to understand the charge, and was unaware of his surroundings, the document states.

Stines was labeled “high-risk” due to episodes of combativeness that required use of pepper spray.

Letcher Co. officials said Stines was “off his rocker”

Several individuals in Letcher County had concerns regarding Stines’ mental state leading up to the shooting, according to court documents.

An attorney, Daniel Dotson, was so concerned for Stines he advised the sheriff to seek a mental health evaluation prior to the shooting. Stines’ demeanor was so alarming that Dotson contacted the Kentucky Bar Association to determine what action to take, according to a motion to dismiss the indictment filed by Stines’ attorneys.

Doston also spoke to Mullins, who said Stines was “losing it” and “couldn’t take this kind of pressure,” in reference to a civil suit.

The motion also said Dotson spoke with the Whitesburg Police Chief, Tyrone Fields, about Stines. Fields said the night before the shooting, Stines called him, and he had “lost his mind,” according to Dotson’s recounting.

Fields spoke with Kentucky State Police after the shooting and said Stines’ demeanor changed “markedly” and there was chatter that the sheriff was “off his rocker,” according to the court filing.

One of Stines’ staff members, Christine Bolling, told investigators the staff members were all concerned about Stines’ “very strange behavior.”

Specifically, the day before the shooting, Stines told Bolling that Dotson gave him money to harm himself or “they were going to kill (Stines’ wife and daughter).”

A judge has yet to rule on whether he will unseal Stines’ mental health evaluation, reduce his bond or dismiss the indictment.

Prosecutors have asked that the evaluation remain sealed. In a response filed Tuesday, prosecutors say the evaluation is not relevant to whether or not a judge could dismiss the indictment or reduce bond.

“No valid basis exists at this juncture for the psychological evaluation to be unsealed,” the response reads.

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