A father accused of killing the man who allegedly sexually abused his teenage daughter has won the sheriff’s race in Arkansas.
Aaron Spencer, 37, earned close to 54% of the vote on Tuesday in the Republican primary for Lonoke County sheriff, per The New York Times. He will go on to face Democratic primary winner Brian Mitchell Sr. in the fall general election.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the people of Lonoke County for placing their trust in me. Thank you to everyone who supported this campaign, worked hard, and showed up to vote,” Spencer told local ABC affiliate KATV on Wednesday. “This is an important step forward, but we still have one more election ahead. I look forward to continuing this conversation with the people of Lonoke County as we work toward building a safer, strong Lonoke County.”
In October 2024, Spencer allegedly shot and killed Michael Fosler, 67, after claiming to find him with his then 14-year-old daughter. Fosler was out on bond and facing 43 criminal charges in connection with the teen, including sexual assault, at the time of his murder.
“I believe that I did what any good father would do in that situation that I was put in,” Spencer said, per KATV. He touted his actions as being his reason for running in the GOP primary.
“I’m the father who acted to protect his daughter when the system failed,” Spencer said in an October Facebook video. “And through my own fight for justice, I have seen firsthand the failures in law enforcement and in our circuit court. I refuse to stand by while others face these same failures.”
Spencer was charged with second-degree murder and pleaded not guilty, per CNN. The trial was postponed from January and will be rescheduled following a hearing later this month. If found guilty, he will not be able to serve as sheriff, per Arkansas law.
When the public heard about Spencer’s arrest, more than $100,000 reportedly poured into a GoFundMe account for legal expenses. However, the platform reportedly pulled the fundraiser without explanation, as The Daily Wire previously reported.
“Lonoke County sent a clear message last night, and we’re just getting started,” Spencer said in a statement on social media. “I’m running to restore accountability and integrity to the Sheriff’s Office, and the people of this county just showed they want the same thing.”
