WHITESBURG – (TNS) Prosecutors have asked for a change of venue for the case against Shawn “Mickey” Stines, the former Letcher County sheriff who’s charged with killing a district judge.

Jackie Steele, the commonwealth’s attorney prosecuting the case, said a change of venue for Stines’ case is proper because of immense media coverage and local residents with preconceived opinions about the case.

Stines, 44, is charged with shooting and killing former county district judge Kevin Mullins on Sept. 19, 2024, inside Mullins’ chambers. The shooting and the minutes before it were captured on video and released by the Kentucky State Police through an open records request.

“The case is unique in that the scene of the crime happens to be the courthouse in which (Stines) is reporting for pretrial

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