A former Eastern Kentucky sheriff charged with murdering a district judge in 2024 will no longer testify in person at a civil trial involving his former deputy.
Shawn “Mickey” Stines, 45, previously served as sheriff of Letcher County. He is charged in the Sept. 19, 2024, fatal shooting of Kevin Mullins inside the judge’s chambers.
Stines had been scheduled to testify this week in the federal civil trial of former deputy Ben Fields, but instead a redacted version of a prior deposition will be presented to jurors.
Background of the Civil Case
The lawsuit dates back to January 2022, when Sabrina Adkins alleged Fields coerced her into sex acts in a judge’s chambers in exchange for relief from court monitoring fees. The suit later expanded to include additional allegations and claims of systemic misconduct within the sheriff’s office.
Fields previously pleaded guilty in a related criminal case to third-degree rape, third-degree sodomy, tampering with a monitoring device and second-degree perjury. He has since served his sentence.
The civil case accuses Fields of assault and battery and alleges negligence by Eastern Kentucky Correctional Service. Stines was originally named in the lawsuit in his official capacity as sheriff but is no longer a party to the case.
Jurors will consider whether the sheriff’s office provided inadequate training or supervision and whether any failures contributed to Adkins’ alleged injuries.
Why Stines Won’t Testify
Attorneys for the sheriff’s department argued Stines would likely invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination due to his pending murder case. Lawyers for Fields also contended that Stines’ presence could unfairly prejudice jurors, given widespread media coverage of the judge’s killing.
A federal judge agreed to exclude live testimony and instead allow portions of a 196-page deposition taken Sept. 16, 2024 — just three days before Mullins was shot.
The redacted deposition includes discussion of training procedures, departmental culture, inmate monitoring protocols and Stines’ response to allegations against Fields.
Connection to the Judge’s Killing
Stines’ deposition occurred days before the shooting in Mullins’ chambers. According to court filings, colleagues later reported noticeable changes in Stines’ behavior following the deposition.
Statements from county officials and law enforcement described Stines as appearing distressed in the days leading up to the shooting. Court records also indicate he told his doctor he was under significant work-related stress.
Prosecutors have not publicly detailed a specific motive in the murder case.
Trial Location
Fields’ civil trial is being held at the federal courthouse in London, Kentucky.