FRANKFORT, Ky. — A special judge has now been appointed to preside over the murder trial of former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Mickey Stines.
Stines is charged with one count of murder for the shooting death of Letcher District Judge Kevin Mullins back in September.
Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Laurance VanMeter has now appointed 8th Circuit Judge Christopher Cohron, of Bowling Green, to preside over the case. He also appointed Boyle County Circuit Clerk Cortney Shewmaker, of Danville, as special clerk in the case.
Stines continues to be held in the Leslie County jail as he awaits trial.
If convicted, he could face the death penalty, due to the victim being an elected official. However, prosecutors have not announced whether or not they will seek the death penalty.
