Murder charge dropped for Arkansas sheriff nominee who killed daughter’s alleged abuser
Judge says missing dash-cam evidence and other law enforcement failures badly impaired Spencer’s defense and warranted dismissal of the murder charge.
- On Thursday, Special Circuit Judge Ralph Wilson dismissed the second-degree murder charge against Arkansas sheriff candidate Aaron Spencer, clearing his path to potentially become Lonoke County's sheriff in November.
- Wilson found that law enforcement lost or destroyed a dash camera SD card, creating "the appearance of a cover-up." The judge wrote this egregious conduct impaired Spencer's ability to defend himself, establishing a pattern of procedural violations.
- Spencer admitted to shooting Michael Fosler in October 2024 after finding his daughter in Fosler's vehicle. Fosler, 67, was out on bond awaiting trial for dozens of sexual offenses against Spencer's then-13-year-old daughter.
- Following the dismissal, Spencer remains eligible to serve as Lonoke County Sheriff. He secured the Republican nomination in March by defeating incumbent Sheriff John Staley with over 50% of more than 10,000 votes cast.
- In the November general election, Spencer faces Democrat Bryan Mitchell and independent candidate Larry Behnke. The contest occurs in a county where Donald Trump received almost 76% of the vote in 2024.
132 Articles
132 Articles
Murder charge against Arkansas sheriff nominee who killed daughter's alleged abuser dropped
A judge dismissed a murder charge against an Arkansas man who won the GOP nomination for sheriff while awaiting trial for the shooting death of his teenage daughter's alleged abuser.
'Protecting his child': Charges against sheriff nominee who killed daughter's alleged abuser are dropped * WorldNetDaily * by Bob Unruh
Aaron Spencer and his wife Criminal charges against an Arkansas man, a nominee for sheriff in his county, that stemmed from his shooting of his daughter’s alleged abuser have been dropped. A report posted on an ABC affiliate said a judge has dismissed a murder count against Aaron Spencer, who is on the November ballot to be the sheriff in Lonoke County. He had been charged and was awaiting trial for the shooting death of the man who allegedly wa…
Dad Who Killed Daughter’s Predator Has Case Dismissed
An Arkansas judge has dismissed the murder case against a father who said he shot and killed a man to protect his teenage daughter from an alleged predator. Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. dismissed the case against 37-year-old Aaron Spencer on Thursday, June 4, after it was revealed that law enforcement lost a dash...
Murder Case Dismissed for Arkansas Sheriff Nominee
A judge on Thursday dismissed a murder charge against an Arkansas man who won the GOP nomination for sheriff while awaiting trial for the shooting death of his teenage daughter's alleged abuser. The ruling came weeks before Aaron Spencer, who will be on the November ballot, had been set to...
Army vet GOP candidate for sheriff who killed daughter’s alleged abuser gets murder charged dropped
An Arkansas sheriff candidate who killed a man who’d allegedly sexually assaulted his 13-year-old daughter has won his criminal court case. Sheriff candidate Aaron Spencer, who won the GOP nomination for sheriff while waiting to go on trial for killing Michael Fosler, 67, watched Thursday as Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. dismissed the entire criminal case against him just weeks before his trial was to begin. In dismissing the case…
Army vet GOP candidate for sheriff who killed daughter’s alleged abuser gets murder charged dropped · American Wire News
An Arkansas sheriff candidate who killed a man who’d allegedly sexually assaulted his 13-year-old daughter has won his criminal court case. Sheriff candidate Aaron Spencer, who won the GOP nomination for sheriff while waiting to go on trial for killing Michael Fosler, 67, watched Thursday as Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. dismissed the entire criminal case against him just weeks before his trial was to begin. In dismissing the case…
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