UPDATE: Sept. 4 at 5 p.m.
The defense team for former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Mickey Stines is fighting the prosecution's request for a second mental health evaluation, arguing their client has already undergone sufficient psychiatric testing.
Stines faces a murder charge in a case that has drawn significant attention. His attorneys filed their opposition on Sept. 3, in Letcher Circuit Court, arguing that requiring another examination would be unfair and without legal basis.
The Commonwealth filed its motion for a second examination on March 10, 2025, but the defense argues prosecutors haven't demonstrated a compelling need for additional testing.
"The Commonwealth's request for a second evaluation fails to demonstrate a compelling need that would justify subjecting the Defendant to an additional evaluation," the defense stated. "They should not be allowed to obtain another evaluation simply because the initial KCPC evaluation is unfavorable to their case," the defense argued.
UPDATE: March 14 at 2:30 p.m.
A filed court document entered on Friday read that a judge has approved the motion by the Commonwealth of Kentucky to have Former Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines examined at the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center.
The document detailed that at least one psychologist or psychiatrist at the center "shall examine, treat (when applicable) and report on the defendant's mental health."
Further the document reads that the examination will assess whether Stines, "meets the criteria of 'insanity'...," along with assess if Stines, "suffers, or has suffered, from a mental disease or defect or any other mental condition that bears on the issues of guilt or punishment."
UPDATE: March 12 at 11:30 a.m.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky has moved to have Former Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines examined at the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center, according to a motion filed on March 10.
The motion, signed by the assistant attorney general and the commonwealth's attorney for the 27th Judicial Circuit, states that the commonwealth has "no objection to the defendant's request to have the defense expert present as an observer during the evaluation of the defendant at KCPS."
Original Story:
A document filed in court by the attorney of Former Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines states that he intends to present evidence for an insanity defense.
According to the document, Stines "intends to present expert relating to a mental disease or defect or mental condition bearing on the issue of guilt and punishment."
Stines has been charged with the murder of District Judge Kevin Mullins in September 2024. Stines went on to plead not guilty.
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY LETCHER CIRCUIT COURT by LEX18News on Scribd
