LEXINGTON, Ky. — The judge overseeing the murder case for former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines has ruled he cannot be released on bond, and his trial will need to be moved to another county.

Warren Circuit Judge Christopher Cohron, who was appointed as a special judge in the case, ruled Tuesday afternoon that Stines has to be held without bond until his case is over. Stines, 45, is charged with shooting and killing Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins in Mullins’ chambers in September 2024.

The shooting was captured on video, which has been shared widely.

“For the purpose of bail, the Court finds that the proof of guilt is evident and the presumption of guilt is great in this matter,” Cohron’s order reads. “Therefore, the Court orders the defendant shall be held without bail pending adjudication of the case.”

Cohron said the circumstances of the case make it necessary to hold the trial outside Letcher County. Both men involved were prominent public officials, the case has received significant attention on social media, and the shooting happened inside the courthouse.

Cohron has not decided where the case will be moved, but said there was overwhelming evidence that a Letcher County jury pool would be prejudicial to the ability for either side to have a fair trial. He also ruled that the case would need to be moved beyond Letcher’s neighboring counties.

“The coverage of this matter has been so pervasive not only from media coverage, but the amount of information and misinformation on the internet is staggering,” he wrote.

The prosecutors had requested the trial be moved.

Both prosecutors and Stines’ defense team have 15 days to submit their suggestions to the judge as to where they would like to see the trial held, according to the order.

It’s been months since the judge heard arguments about both of these requests — one for Stines to get bail and another for the case to be moved. Prosecutors and Stines’ defense team appeared in Leslie County District Court June 5 to argue on those motions.

Stines’ lawyers have said they plan to present an extreme emotional disturbance, or insanity, defense at trial.

Cohron also granted a request for Stines to have an additional mental health evaluation.

Cohron has not made a ruling on whether Stines could be given the death penalty if he’s convicted.

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