"I wasn't present," Clayton Stamper, lead investigator, said. "But when he was taken into custody, I was told by one of the other officers that were there that he made the comment, 'They're trying to kidnap my wife and kid.

A detective testified the fatal shooting of Kentucky Judge Kevin Mullins by Sheriff Mickey Stines followed calls to the sheriff's daughter.

The sheriff who is charged with the murder of a district court judge in Eastern Kentucky has now retired.Sheriff Mickey Stines pleaded not guilty last week.Stin

Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines has been arrested in connection to a shooting at the Letcher County Courthouse on Thursday.

Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines will go before a judge Tuesday afternoon at the Morgan County Judicial Center. He’s due to appear in court at 1 p.m. for a preliminary hearing on the heels of announcing his retirement ahead of the ongoing legal process.

The letter, from The Law Office of Jeremy A. Bartley, said that Stines made the "difficult decision to effect his retirement" on Monday ahead of the ongoing legal process.

Stines was arrested and charged with first-degree murder on the suspicion of having gunned down District Judge Kevin Mullins in his chambers. The shooting came after an argument between the two prominent figures, according to a statement from Kentucky State Police.

Where is Letcher County, Kentucky? Sheriff Mickey Stines accused of killing judge in courthouse. What to know about the Whitesburg shooting.

The Kentucky sheriff accused of fatally shooting a judge in his chambers is retiring, according to a letter from the murder suspect's attorney.

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