A Kentucky lawman stepped down Monday as sheriff of the county where he’s accused of walking into a judge’s chambers and killing him in a shooting that stunned their Appalachian community.
Shawn “Mickey” Stines’ departure from the Letcher County sheriff position after a long career in law enforcement was described as a retirement by one of his attorneys, Kerri Bartley. His decision was not the result of any ultimatum or a concession to prosecutors’ allegations, she said.
“Rather, Sheriff Stines has made this decision to allow for a successor to continue to protect his beloved constituents while he addresses the legal process ahead of him,” Bartley said in a statement.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear had called on Stines to resign and threatened to begin a removal process if he declined to do so.
“Every Kentucky county needs an active and a working sheriff,” the Democratic governor told reporters last week. “ One of the most important roles of state government is to provide safety to our people. And right now, Letcher County doesn’t have an active and a working sheriff.”