WHITESBURG, Ky. — A judge has denied former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn "Mickey" Stines' motion to dismiss his murder indictment, according to court records.

Special Judge Christopher T. Cohron said the case will proceed in a court order filed Dec. 3.

According to the order, Stines argued the prosecutor misled the grand jury in Nov. 2024 about his mental state and an Oct. 2024 grand jury meeting wasn't recorded.

Cohron wrote that video evidence of Stines fatally shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins is suficient probable cause for a murder indictment. He added the Oct. 2024 meeting was just to request subpoenas and no sworn testimony was given, meaning no recording was required.

Cohron also rejected Stines' motion to open his Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center evaluation as the

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