Judge drops murder charge against Arkansas sheriff candidate who killed a man

A decide has dropped the homicide cost towards an Arkansas sheriff candidate who killed a person accused of sexually abusing his daughter.

Aaron Spencer was charged with second-degree homicide within the October 2024 killing of Michael Fosler, 67, who had been charged with sexually abusing Spencer’s 13-year-old daughter.

On Thursday, a decide dismissed the homicide case towards Spencer after ruling that the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Workplace mishandled proof. Legislation enforcement’s conduct was “so egregious” that it warranted the dismissal, Particular Circuit Courtroom Choose Ralph Wilson Jr. mentioned in his ruling.

The killing occurred after Spencer found his daughter lacking from her bed room within the early morning hours of Oct. 8 and located her in Fosler’s truck, based on court docket paperwork. Spencer instructed detectives he hit the rear of the automobile throughout a chase, ordered Fosler to get out and shot him after Folster lunged at him, the paperwork mentioned.

Based on the paperwork, Spencer, who’d had his spouse name 911 to report their daughter’s disappearance, referred to as a second time after the killing and instructed a dispatcher that he’d “had no selection.”

Fosler, who had been charged a month prior with 43 sexual-related offenses associated to Spencer’s daughter, was out on bond on the time.

Spencer mentioned his case impressed him to run for workplace, and he went on to win the Republican nomination for Lonoke County sheriff in March.

On his web site, Spencer mentioned he “totally disputes the fees towards him” and mentioned his actions had been that of “a father defending his baby.”

In his ruling dismissing the homicide case, Wilson discovered the sheriff’s workplace didn’t correctly label, retailer or protect a splash digital camera and an SD card from Fosler’s truck.

Spencer’s protection argued that the digital camera footage would have supplied key proof and proven the occasions of the night time, together with that Fosler was with Spencer’s daughter.

“The Courtroom finds that the loss or destruction of the interior SD reminiscence card of the sprint digital camera has adversely impaired Defendant’s capability to defend himself pursuant to those defenses, and thus his proper to a good trial,” Wilson wrote.

Following the ruling, Spencer mentioned he was “grateful this chapter is closed.”

“My focus now could be on my household and getting again to a standard life. I might ask folks to please respect my household’s privateness as we transfer into this subsequent section of life and search to return to regular,” he mentioned in a press release.

Erin Cassinelli, Spencer’s lead legal professional, mentioned Spencer “ought to have by no means been charged for shielding his baby.”

“Right now, the court docket did precisely what courts are alleged to do: shield the rights of the accused and maintain our legislation enforcement accountable for following the identical legal guidelines they’re sworn to uphold,” she mentioned.

With the cost dismissed, Spencer is obvious to proceed is run for sheriff forward of the November election. If he had been convicted, he would’ve been ineligible.