A former Kentucky sheriff accused of gunning down a judge last year, stunning their tight-knit Appalachian community, appeared remotely from jail on Friday for a court hearing as defense attorneys and prosecutors discussed preliminary matters that will lead up to his murder trial.

A former Kentucky sheriff accused of gunning down a judge last year has appeared remotely from a jail for a court hearing

Attorneys prosecuting the Kentucky sheriff accused of gunning down a judge in his chamber have collected a “voluminous” amount of evidence that could take up to six months to review. Ex-Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines appeared virtually in court Friday for a status hearing alongside his lawyers from the Leslie County Detention Center where he has been holed up since his arrest.