Judge Kevin Mullins was allegedly murdered by the Sheriff in his tiny Appalachian community. Now, police officers in Kentucky are still investigating leads to uncover the Sherriff’s motive.

Cops looking into the shock killing are now probing a potential “sex scandal” as a reason why Sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines allegedly shot his friend eight times after entering the judge’s chambers at Letcher County Circuit Court in Kentucky.

The two men were reportedly seen in as yet unreleased video footage looking at each other’s cellphones after a short discussion. Now sexual allegations about the married district judge have circulated in Whitesburg, where the killing took place on September 19.

Kentucky State Police have confirmed to Daily Mail that the sex claims are being investigated among many lines of enquiry regarding the murder. Trooper Matt Gayheart said: “We are not ruling out anything as a possible motive. The whole thing will be investigated thoroughly. It’s just going to take some time to make sure we can make the right determination. It could be weeks, it could be months. Our investigators seized the two cell phones and they’re being analyzed.”

The local newspaper in Whitesburg appealed to the 1771 residents of the small town to try and remain calm over the incident in a front-page story this week. The Mountain Eagle article read: “Rumors, apparently none true, have raced through the community, setting a torch to other relationships. The community is split between those bent on spreading salacious gossip and those determined to protect the families of two men they saw as pillars of the community.”

The Mountain Eagle also claimed that Stines had been acting “erratically” since Labor Day according to his friends and co-workers. “He was quieter than usual and had stopped regular communications with the community and the press,” it wrote.

The paper also claimed Stines had told them he had been having “some issues” and had lost 40lbs from his 300lb frame in just two weeks. The DailyMail.com claims that the two men were seen enjoying lunch together just hours before the shooting at a spot where the friends of 20 years had regularly eaten out together over the years.

Stines was arraigned via video link and pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder as it was revealed he could face the death penalty under Kentucky law. A description of the incident says two shots were fired just before 2.55 pm inside Judge Mullins’ chambers.

Attorneys and staff who were waiting for the court to resume on the other side of the closed door heard the two bangs after Stines had allegedly drawn a weapon, then a flurry of shots. Mullins’ court security officer Deputy Wallace Kincer charged into his office and found the judge dead.

Stines then surrendered to Whitesburg Police and his own deputies who had entered the building with rifles. Mullins’ funeral was held on Sunday near his home in Jenkins, 11 miles from Whitesburg. He and his 38-year-old wife Kimberly shared two daughters.