A former Kentucky sheriff accused of gunning down a sitting judge inside his courthouse chambers has admitted to pulling the trigger, according to newly filed court documents, while his defense moves to lean heavily on an insanity argument as the case heads towards trial.

Shawn “Mickey” Stines, who resigned as Letcher County sheriff after the September 2024 killing, admitted in the filing that he shot District Judge Kevin Mullins during a confrontation in the Whitesburg courthouse, according to court documents obtained by the Lexington Herald-Leader.

The video, with no audio, showed a man identified by police as Stines pulling out a gun and shooting at the judge, who was seated at his desk.

The man walked around the desk, pointed the gun at the judge, and repeatedly shot him. Stines

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