Former Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines has a court appearance today in connection with the September 19 shooting death of Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins.
Stines officially retired on Monday, five days after Governor Andy Beshear asked him to resign, threatening to remove him if he didn’t.
Stines appearance today is a preliminary hearing that is being held at the Morgan County Judicial Center.
Last week at his arraignment Stines pleaded not guilty to murder in the first degree.
Although he had inquired about a public defender at that arraignment, Stines has since
engaged attorney Jeremy Bartley of Somerset along with Kerri Bartley from his firm.
As for replacing Stines as Sheriff, so far no announcement has been made.
Meanwhile the Letcher County Courthouse is back open.
The Kentucky Trial Court Review says Letcher District Court will resume proceedings today with Judge Eric Hall from Floyd County sitting as a temporary assignment.