WHITESBURG, Ky. (FOX 56) — It’s been one year since former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines was accused of shooting and killing District Judge Kevin Mullins inside his chambers.

Just three days before the then-sheriff Stines allegedly murdered Mullins, he gave a deposition in a civil suit.

Ned Pillersdorf, a criminal defense lawyer, represents Sabrina Adkins, who filed a 2022 federal civil rights lawsuit against Letcher County deputy Ben Fields and others in the sheriff’s office.

“The world has changed. I never had hardly any female clients, and I’d say most of my caseload is women and drug charges. That’s what’s going on in Appalachian courtrooms today,” Pillersdorf said.

Adkins’ testimony led to a prison sentence for Fields. He ran the county’s home detention program.

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