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Former Kentucky sheriff to undergo psychiatric evaluation in murder case

A grand jury returned an indictment of murder of a public official against former Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines Thursday afternoon. Stines allegedly shot District Judge Kevin Mullins to death in the judge's chambers Sept. 19.
A grand jury returned an indictment of murder of a public official against former Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines Thursday afternoon. Stines allegedly shot District Judge Kevin Mullins to death in the judge's chambers Sept. 19.

State officials have ordered former Letcher County sheriff Shawn Stines to be examined on the issue of criminal responsibility.

Stines is charged with murder in the shooting death of Letcher County Judge Kevin Mullins last September. Stines' attorney has said they plan on pursuing insanity and extreme emotional disturbance defenses.

Officials will have Stines moved to the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center in La Grange for evaluation. Stines' lawyer has asked for a defense expert to be present during the evaluation, a request the Commonwealth has agreed to.

The request for evaluation does not raise the issue of whether or not Stines is competent to stand trial.

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Stan Ingold is WEKU's News Director. He has worked in public broadcasting for 18 years, starting at Morehead State Public Radio before spending the past 10 years at Alabama Public Radio. Stan has been honored with numerous journalism awards for his public radio reporting.
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