By Danielle
A judge on Thursday dismissed a second-degree murder charge against Aaron Spencer, an Arkansas sheriff candidate who was scheduled to go on trial for killing a man accused of sexually assaulting his teenage daughter.
Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. dismissed the case against Spencer, citing missing evidence and misconduct by law enforcement.
According to CBS News, “Spencer won the GOP nomination over a three-term incumbent sheriff whose office had arrested him on the murder charge in Lonoke County.”
“The court finds that conduct by law enforcement was so egregious that dismissal of this case is warranted,” Wilson wrote, according to the outlet.
CBS News explained further:
Spencer’s attorneys did not deny that he shot and killed Michael Fosler, 67, in 2024. At the time, Fosler was out on bond after being charged with dozens of sexual offenses against Spencer’s then-13-year-old daughter.
Court documents show that on the night of the shooting, Spencer had woken up to find his daughter missing, and later found the girl in the passenger seat of a vehicle Fosler was driving. Spencer forced Fosler’s truck off the road and, after an altercation, called 911 to report he had shot the man.
Prosecutors said Spencer planned the killing and that he could have called police while pursuing Fosler. But Spencer pleaded not guilty and maintained he acted to protect his child from a predator.
Spencer said in a statement Thursday that the support from the community “carried our family.”
“Neighbors here in Lonoke County, people from every part of Arkansas, and folks I’ve never met from around the world reached out, prayed for us, and refused to stay quiet,” Spencer said. “When I couldn’t speak for myself, you spoke for me. I’ll never be able to thank you the way you deserve, but I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to live up to it.”
Spencer’s attorney, Erin Cassinelli, said she is thankful for the court’s decision.
“No member of this family should ever again be forced to walk into a courtroom and relive this horror,” she said in a statement. “This father should have never been charged for protecting his child.”
“My focus now is on my family and getting back to a normal life. I would ask people to please respect my family’s privacy as we move into this next phase of life and seek to return to normal. I’m grateful this chapter is closed. There’s still work to do in Lonoke County, and I’m more committed to it than ever. Together we can build a safer and stronger Lonoke County,” Spencer said.
“Today, the court did exactly what courts are supposed to do: protect the rights of the accused and hold our law enforcement accountable for following the same laws they are sworn to uphold. Arkansans must have full confidence that when public officials make decisions affecting our freedoms, those decisions are made with competence and integrity. When a community loses faith in the officials they entrust to make those decisions, justice loses all meaning and families suffer,” Cassinelli said.
“This case is a good reminder that even when the local courts fail us, we have a larger justice system in place to protect the rights of Arkansans. I am thankful for both the Arkansas Supreme Court’s interventions in this case and for Special Circuit Judge Wilson’s thoughtful and careful consideration of the record and commitment to the rule of law,” she added.