Arkansas Judge Dismisses Murder Charge Against Aaron Spencer

A Special Circuit Court judge in Arkansas has ruled to dismiss a murder charge against Aaron Spencer, a candidate for sheriff, citing significant misconduct by law enforcement. This decision follows the disappearance of a dash camera memory card that might have documented the incident.

Aaron Spencer, awaiting trial on a second-degree murder charge, secured the GOP nomination for sheriff in Lonoke County, which has a population of about 76,000. Judge Ralph Wilson Jr., who presided over the case, made the ruling just weeks before the trial was set to commence.

The court finds that conduct by law enforcement was so egregious that dismissal of this case is warranted.

Spencer’s legal team did not dispute that he had shot Michael Fosler, 67, in 2024. Fosler was out on bail at that time, facing numerous sexual offense charges related to Spencer’s teenage daughter. According to court records, Spencer discovered his daughter missing and later found her with Fosler, prompting the confrontation that led to the shooting. Spencer then alerted authorities of the shooting.

Prosecutors accused Spencer of premeditating the killing, arguing that he should have called the police instead. However, Spencer, who pled not guilty, insisted his actions were driven by the need to protect his child from harm. Spencer expressed gratitude for the community’s support, saying their backing helped his family during the ordeal.

Spencer’s attorney, Erin Cassinelli, praised the court’s decision, stating, “No member of this family should ever again be forced to walk into a courtroom and relive this horror. This father should have never been charged for protecting his child.” Lonoke County Prosecuting Attorney Chuck Graham did not provide any immediate comment.

The Associated Press usually refrains from naming sexual abuse victims, but Spencer has openly discussed his daughter’s case throughout his campaign, advocating for enhanced measures against child sex crimes.

The defense argued that the dash camera footage would have exonerated Spencer, showing vital proof of his innocence. Initially, the camera was mishandled by the authorities. Its settings were not preserved, allowing the battery to deplete and the settings to reset. Crucially, the memory card from the camera went missing after being retrieved from the scene by a detective.

Judge Wilson was assigned to the case after the Arkansas Supreme Court dismissed the previous judge, Barbara Elmore, due to an overly broad gag order that infringed upon Spencer’s First Amendment rights.