Aaron Spencer, Arkansas man accused of killing daughter’s alleged abuser wins GOP nomination in Lonoke County sheriff’s race as he awaits trial on second degree murder charges.
An Arkansas man facing second degree murder charges has won the Republican nomination for sheriff of a county in Arkansas, according to the Arkansas secretary of state’s office.
Aaron Spencer who is awaiting trial for allegedly shooting and killing his daughter’s sexual abuser scored over 53% of the vote in the Republican primary, defeating Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley and another candidate, state results show.
Staley, whose department arrested Spencer in 2024, conceded the loss.
When a man accused of taking the law into their own hands win nomination for Sheriff’s office
Spencer, an Army veteran and a farmer, made headlines in October 2024, when he was charged with shooting and killing a 67-year-old man, Michael Fosler, who had been charged with sexually abusing Spencer’s 13-year-old daughter.
Spencer has pleaded not guilty and is out on bond while awaiting trial. Originally set to go to trial in January, a new case date has yet to be decided following the presiding judge being removed.
Spencer’s attorneys do not deny that he shot and killed Fosler but maintain he acted within the law to protect his child from a predator. But had the dad acted within the law’s ambit or simply exercized his own brand of justice? At any point was the father and his daughter in immediate danger and was the alleged abuser’s death more of a case of a ‘moral death’?
Justified killing?
Spencer’s attorneys, Erin Cassinelli and Michael Kiel Kaiser, told NBC News last year that his actions were ‘justified under Arkansas law in taking action to protect his daughter and himself.’
Spencer said the case, which is pending, helped inspire his run for office.
‘Through my own fight for justice, I have seen firsthand the failures in law enforcement and in our circuit court. And I refuse to stand by while others face these same failures,’ Spencer said in a video announcing his campaign.
‘I’m the father who acted to protect his daughter when the system failed,’ Spencer said.
‘Through my own fight for justice, I’ve seen first hand the failures in law-enforcement and in our circuit court, and I refuse to stand by while others face these same failures,’ he said, adding that the campaign ‘isn’t about me. It’s about every parent, every neighbor, every family who deserves to feel safe in their homes and safe in their community.’
He’ll face off against Democrat Brian Mitchell Sr. in November.
News of the win, led to Lonoke County Sheriff Staley saying the father’s message of accountability resonated with voters.
‘Tonight, the people of Lonoke County stood up and chose transparency and accountability,’ Spencer said according to KCRG. ‘This wasn’t a campaign about me. It was about every family who called for help and got nothing. That betrayal ends tonight.’
Of note, Spencer would not be able to serve if he is convicted of killing Fosler who at the time was out on bond after being charged with numerous sexual offenses against Spencer’s then-13-year-old daughter.
Spencer pledged in a Facebook post last month that if elected he would establish a dedicated team to combat sex crimes against children.
