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Court asked to unseal psychiatric evaluation of former sheriff accused of murdering judge

Stines with his lawyer in court
Associate Press

Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines is charged with killing Letcher County District Court Judge Kevin Mullins inside the judge's chambers last September. His attorneys have filed a motion to make their client's psych evaluation public.

Stines was evaluated at the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center after his attorneys said they would use an insanity defense. That evaluation is complete and under seal. His attorneys, Jeremy and Kerri Barley, filed a motion stating in part:

“The contents of the psychological evaluation are directly relevant to issues anticipated to be raised at the upcoming evidentiary hearing. The defendant seeks to introduce portions of the psychological evaluation at the evidentiary hearing to support his defense and ensure the court has a full and fair understanding of the relevant facts.”

Stines' next scheduled hearing is Friday, Aug. 15.