District Judge Kevin Mullins, who was fatally shot in his own chambers by former Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, is now at the center of disturbing allegations that paint his courthouse as a hub of systemic abuse, corruption, and exploitation.
Revelations of a shocking sex-for-favors scheme have emerged from police recordings obtained by NewsNation’s Banfield, unveiling a justice system marred by abuse of power and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
Audio recordings from an investigation into former Deputy Ben Fields, who has been convicted of rape, sodomy, and perjury, have brought to light chilling accusations involving Judge Mullins. The recordings suggest that Mullins may have been complicit in a network of sexual exploitation within the courthouse.
One of the most damning allegations comes from Sabrina Adkins, a victim of Ben Fields and a plaintiff in a federal civil rights lawsuit. Adkins claims that Mullins, along with other courthouse officials, coerced female inmates into engaging in sexual acts in exchange for legal leniency, such as reduced sentences or waivers for ankle monitor fees.
Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, who is accused of murdering Mullins, was also deposed in a federal lawsuit for allegedly failing to investigate sexual assault claims against Deputy Ben Fields.
Fields, who worked as a jailer within the courthouse, was accused of sexually assaulting two female inmates in Judge Mullins’ chambers. Despite these claims, Adkins alleges that Stines and other officials turned a blind eye to the rampant abuse, enabling a culture of exploitation to flourish.
Adkins told investigators she had seen explicit videos that were allegedly filmed inside Mullins’ chambers. These videos reportedly show the judge engaging in sexual acts with female inmates, providing further evidence of the corruption.
The recordings and testimonies suggest that the courthouse, under Mullins’ oversight, operated like a “brothel,” with individuals in power abusing their positions to exploit those most vulnerable.
The allegations against Mullins and Fields underscore a broader pattern of corruption within the judicial and law enforcement systems. Adkins described a “network of higher-ups” complicit in the exploitation of women who were often in no position to resist due to their legal circumstances.
These claims, combined with the explicit evidence and the failure to act on accusations against Fields, have prompted calls for a deeper investigation into the courthouse’s practices and those who enabled this culture of abuse.
Mullins’ death at the hands of Stines adds a dramatic layer to the unfolding scandal. While the motive behind the shooting remains under investigation, it raises questions about the extent of the corruption and whether Stines’ actions were related to the growing allegations against Mullins.
Stines, who was once a respected sheriff, now finds himself embroiled in the same web of scandal, with his deposition shedding light on his role in failing to address the misconduct.
Investigator:
But he does have some videotapes of some stuff in the judge’s chambers.Investigator:
What kind of stuff?Adkins:
Just, with girls, sexual and stuff.Investigator:
What? Describe. Have you seen the videos?Adkins:
I’ve seen one partly, you know, just him having sex with girls to get them out of jail.Investigator:
Who’s having sex?Adkins:
Ben and just some higher-ups up there.Investigator:
Who?Adkins:
The judge.Investigator:
And you saw the video?Adkins:
Mhmm. Yeah.Investigator:
What did you see on the video?Adkins:
I mean, I saw Judge Mullins having sex with a girl.Investigator:
Who was the girl?Adkins:
I don’t know, because I don’t know a lot of people from there.Investigator:
Where was it at?Adkins:
In his office. It was the judge’s chambers.Investigator:
Is that the same place where you were meeting Ben? Is that how you know it was the judge’s chambers? And this was Judge who?Adkins:
Mullins.
WATCH:
Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, currently jailed and awaiting trial for the murder of District Judge Kevin Mullins, denies having any knowledge of the judge’s alleged misconduct. However, investigators suggest Mullins’ potential testimony against Stines in a high-profile civil case may have been the driving motive for the killing, according to a report by the New York Post.
Just days before Mullins’ death, Stines was deposed in a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Sabrina Adkins, a victim of sexual assault by former Deputy Ben Fields. The lawsuit implicated Stines, Fields, and other unnamed officials in a web of systemic exploitation and abuse within the courthouse.
Stines officially resigned as sheriff just one day before the fatal shooting, an act that now appears to signal the culmination of escalating tensions. The civil suit, which alleged gross misconduct and failure to act against reported abuses, positioned Mullins as a likely witness against Stines, heightening speculation about the murder’s underlying motive.
Stines’ legal team has acknowledged his role in the shooting but insists the act was not premeditated. Instead, they argue it was committed under “extreme emotional disturbance.”
“He wasn’t in a rational state of mind,” defense attorney Jeremy Bartley stated, maintaining that the evidence supports a charge of first-degree manslaughter rather than murder. “I think they’ve established probable cause for manslaughter first, but not murder.”
The claim of emotional instability has become a cornerstone of Stines’ defense as his attorneys work to cast doubt on the intent behind the killing.
Surveillance footage presented in court offered a harrowing glimpse of the fatal encounter. In the video, Judge Mullins is seen crouching behind his desk, attempting to shield himself as Stines enters his chambers and fires multiple shots.
As Mullins lay injured and motionless, Stines began to leave but then paused, turned back, and fired additional rounds upon noticing movement under the desk. This chilling sequence of events, lasting only 20 seconds, has become a pivotal piece of evidence in the prosecution’s case for premeditation.
While Stines’ defense focuses on his mental state at the time, investigators and legal experts point to the context surrounding the civil lawsuit as a possible motive. Mullins, allegedly complicit in a courthouse exploitation scheme, was reportedly under scrutiny and may have been poised to provide testimony against Stines.
The civil case, brought by Adkins, accused Stines of failing to investigate claims that Deputy Fields sexually assaulted female inmates, including incidents that allegedly took place in Judge Mullins’ chambers. These allegations, coupled with Mullins’ potential involvement in coercing women for legal leniency, painted a damning picture of courthouse corruption.
Screenshot: WYMT 
Screenshot: WYMT
Although only a short segment was shown, Kentucky State Police Det. Clayton Stamper confirmed that the full surveillance recording, which was not played in court, captured a much longer and disturbing interaction between the two men.
Before the shooting, Stines and Mullins had shared a lunch with several others, and according to witnesses, no visible tension arose during the meal.
However, Stamper noted that an unsettling comment was made during the lunch, with Mullins reportedly asking Stines, “Do we need to meet private in my chambers?”
A critical moment came after the two men returned to Mullins’ chambers. The detective testified that Stines, after attempting to call his daughter from his own phone, requested to see the judge’s phone, where his daughter’s number was saved in Mullins’ phone.
Mullins complied, and only seconds later, Stines stood up and began firing.
“I was told that Sheriff Stines had tried to call his daughter, and he had tried to call his daughter from the judge’s phone also,” said Stamper, who verified that phone records confirmed calls had been made to Stines’ daughter’s cell phone from the judge’s phone.
It remains unclear what Stines saw on the judge’s phone that triggered the fatal shooting.
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