By Jim Talbert
Richlands Press
Published: May 8, 2008

TAZEWELL – Scottie Stinson will serve two life sentences plus 92 years for his role in last fall’s shooting of a deputy sheriff.

Judge Teresa Chaffin imposed the sentence after more than two hours of testimony at a May 7 hearing. Stinson had pleaded no contest to two counts of attempted capital murder of a police officer, two counts of armed robbery, two counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony, a felony count of aggregate bad checks and two misdemeanor counts of worthless checks.

Chaffin imposed the two life sentences for the attempted capital murder and two sentences of 50 years each for the robberies. She suspended 10 years of the sentence on each of the robberies but would not consider suspending any of the time imposed for the attempted murder.

A total of eight years was imposed for the felony use of a firearm charges and five years with three suspended for the aggregate bad checks. He was given two 12 month sentences in the regional jail for the misdemeanor worthless check charges.

Chaffin suspended six months on each of those sentences. Commonwealth’s Attorney Dennis Lee had asked for the maximum sentence of 4 life terms. Lee called eight witnesses including Deputy Eric Mullins, who was the shooting victim.

He also submitted victim impact statements from three of the store clerks. He told the court during his closing argument that Stinson had a long criminal history which included an assault on Officer Tim Ray in 1997.

He said 24 law enforcement agencies in four states were involved in the hunt for Stinson, Wallace Kinder and Tracy Coxton. They are charged with the robbery of stores in Richlands and Claypool Hill and shooting Deputy Mullins after he stopped their vehicle on Route 460 near Bluefield.

Mullins did not suffer life threatening injuries because his bullet proof vest stopped one bullet. The other shot struck his middle finger. Kinder and Coxton are awaiting trial for their role in the incidents.