LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - We learned yesterday that Mickey Stines decided to retire at 43 years old.

This was after Governor Andy Beshear pressured Stines to step down, or they would proceed with his forcible removal.

There is a distinction. Resigning is leaving a job, and retirement means exiting the workforce entirely. However, there are also financial benefits at stake.

According to the retirement letter submitted to the governor by Stines’s attorney, he says Stines served the people of Letcher County for 22 years.

We know that he previously worked as a bailiff and deputy sheriff.

The letter goes on to explain that the decision had nothing to do with an ultimatum and is not a concession of the allegations against him.

The Kentucky Public Pensions Authority manages the retirement system for government employees.

Records from the state auditor indicate the letcher county sheriff’s department was paying contributions into the hazardous member category.

In this section, anyone with 20 or more years of service credit may retire with no reduction in benefits.

This is presuming Mickey Stines was paying into that program his entire career with Letcher County.