Governor Andy Beshear has officially asked Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines to resign his position.
Stines is being held in the Leslie County Detention Center on a murder charge. He is accused of shooting and killing Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins last week.
During a press conference on Thursday, Governor Beshear said, given the situation, Letcher County, effectively does not have a sheriff.
“The facts that we all know, regardless of motive, which will be determined through the criminal investigation, show that the current sheriff cannot continue in that current role and what I am trying to do is get Letcher County a sheriff that can be active, as quickly as possible.”
Governor Beshear’s office sent a letter to Stines, giving him until Friday to resign. If he does not, the governor said he is prepared to take measures to have Stines removed from the position.
“It’s not been done, I think in at least several decades, it looks like it would take about 6 months even at the fastest it can go. It is important to say it’s not a criminal trial, it’s about determining, under certain statutes whether removal is appropriate.”
Governor Beshear said, in this case, he knows removal is appropriate.
Stines plead “not guilty” to the first-degree murder charges earlier this week.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday in Morgan County.
** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation.
