A judge on Thursday dismissed a second‑degree murder charge against Aaron Spencer, the GOP nominee for sheriff of Lonoke County, Arkansas. The ruling comes weeks before a jury could decide the case, as Spencer had been set to face a murder trial after allegedly killing Michael Fosler – the man who was charged with sexual offenses against his then‑13‑year‑old daughter.
Spencer won the March primary over the county’s incumbent three‑term sheriff. Lonoke County, with roughly 76,000 residents, is heavily Republican. He is now slated to appear on the November ballot.
According to prosecutors, Spencer planned the killing and could have called police while pursuing Fosler. Defenders say he acted to protect his child from a predator.
The dismissal arose from a dash‑camera memory card that may have captured the shooting. A detective from the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office removed the camera from Fosler’s truck after the incident, but the card was taken to the detective’s office instead of the evidence room and was lost in the subsequent forensic exam.
Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. cited the conduct by law‑enforcement as “egregious” and ruled that the case should be dismissed. He replaced former judge Barbara Elmore after the Arkansas Supreme Court removed her for upholding an overly broad gag order that violated Spencer’s First Amendment rights.
Spencer’s attorney Erin Cassinelli said the decision is a relief for the family: “No member of this family should ever again be forced to walk into a courtroom and relive this horror.” Spencer said he will focus on his family and efforts to strengthen Lonoke County after the dismissal.
The case is part of a broader debate over child sex‑crime and the authority of local law‑enforcement. Spencer’s campaign promises to launch a dedicated team to combat sex crimes against children.
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