A judge has dismissed a murder charge against Aaron Spencer, an Arkansas man who recently won the GOP nomination for sheriff. Spencer was awaiting trial for the alleged shooting of Michael Fosler, the suspected abuser of his teenage daughter.
Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. decided to drop the case because a crucial dash camera memory card, potentially capturing the incident, was lost by law enforcement. Spencer’s trial was set to begin soon on the second-degree murder charge.
In March, Spencer secured the GOP nomination, defeating an incumbent sheriff in Lonoke County, which has about 76,000 residents. ‘The court finds that conduct by law enforcement was so egregious that dismissal of this case is warranted,’ Wilson stated.
Spencer’s legal team did not dispute that he shot Michael Fosler, 67, in 2024. At that time, Fosler was out on bond, charged with numerous sexual offenses against Spencer’s then-13-year-old daughter. The situation unfolded when Spencer discovered his daughter in Fosler’s vehicle. A confrontation ensued and Spencer called 911 to report the shooting.
Prosecutors claimed Spencer premeditated the killing and should have contacted police instead of pursuing Fosler. However, Spencer pleaded not guilty, asserting he acted to protect his daughter from harm.
Spencer expressed gratitude for community support, stating, ‘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.’ His attorney, Erin Cassinelli, also commended the court’s decision, emphasizing that Spencer should not have faced charges for defending his child.
The loss of the dash camera memory card played a significant role in the case dismissal. A detective involved in the investigation admitted to improperly storing the camera, which resulted in the loss of critical evidence.
Originally, Judge Barbara Elmore handled the case but was removed for issuing a gag order that infringed on Spencer’s First Amendment rights. Her replacement, Judge Wilson, concluded that the errors in handling evidence justified dismissing the charges.