Whitesburg, Kentucky — Shocking new allegations have surfaced nearly a year after the fatal courthouse shooting of Judge Kevin Mullins, who was gunned down in his chambers in September 2024. A woman who claims to have been ensnared in Mullins’ circle says the judge operated a disturbing “sex-for-favors” ring that preyed on young women in exchange for leniency, money, or influence.
The explosive claims come from Tya Adams, who shared her story during an interview on Banfield with NewsNation. According to Adams, Mullins leveraged his position of authority in Letcher County to lure vulnerable women into compromising situations. She alleges that women, many of them young, were pressured to engage in sexual encounters at gatherings described as “parties,” with the implicit understanding that doing so would help them avoid legal trouble or earn cash.
“We would do sex parties and perform shows and have sex with them for money,” Adams said. “It was consensual, but we were so young. They used it against us later to destroy our lives.” She added that Mullins specifically warned her to remain silent about the scheme, hinting at repercussions if she ever spoke out.
The scandal deepens the dark shadow over Mullins’ death. He was killed execution-style in his Letcher County chambers on September 2024, allegedly by longtime sheriff and friend, Shawn Stines. Authorities at the time described the shooting as a shocking betrayal within the county’s law enforcement and judicial system. Security camera footage reportedly captured the deadly incident, and Stines was arrested shortly after.
Adams claims her involvement with the alleged ring left her fearful that Child Protective Services would intervene in her life if she resisted. “They would make sure to make you feel as small and degraded and belittled as possible to take your power away,” she told NewsNation.
The allegations raise troubling questions about abuse of power in the small Appalachian community. If substantiated, they point to a culture of exploitation within the courthouse itself — a place where justice was supposed to be served.
Authorities have not yet confirmed whether they are investigating Adams’ claims, but her testimony adds a new dimension to the ongoing fallout from Mullins’ death. What began as a shocking act of violence inside a courthouse may now expose deeper systemic corruption in Letcher County.
For residents of the tight-knit Kentucky community, the revelations are yet another blow to trust in local leadership, leaving many asking whether justice can truly be restored.