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.”