A father charged with killing the man accused of sexually abusing his teenage daughter has won the Republican primary for sheriff in Lonoke County, Arkansas.
Aaron Spencer, 37, secured nearly 54% of the vote in Tuesday’s GOP primary, according to reporting cited by The New York Times. Spencer will now face Democrat Brian Mitchell Sr. in the general election this fall.
Spencer thanked voters following the victory and said he plans to continue making his case to residents ahead of the November election.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the people of Lonoke County for placing their trust in me,” Spencer told KATV. “This is an important step forward, but we still have one more election ahead.”
The race has drawn national attention because Spencer is currently facing criminal charges stemming from an October 2024 shooting.
Authorities say Spencer allegedly shot and killed Michael Fosler, 67, after discovering him with Spencer’s then-14-year-old daughter. At the time of the shooting, Fosler was reportedly out on bond and facing 43 criminal charges connected to allegations involving the girl, including sexual assault.
Spencer has publicly defended his actions.
“I believe that I did what any good father would do in that situation,” he said after the incident.
In a video posted to social media during his campaign, Spencer said the experience motivated him to run for sheriff.
“I’m the father who acted to protect his daughter when the system failed,” Spencer said. “Through my own fight for justice, I have seen firsthand the failures in law enforcement and in our circuit court.”
Spencer has been charged with second-degree murder and has pleaded not guilty. His trial was originally scheduled for January but has been postponed, with a new date expected to be set after a hearing later this month.
Under Arkansas law, Spencer would not be able to serve as sheriff if he is convicted.
Public reaction to the case has been intense. After Spencer’s arrest, supporters reportedly raised more than $100,000 through a crowdfunding campaign to help cover legal costs before the fundraiser was later removed from the platform.
Following his primary victory, Spencer said voters in the county had delivered a clear message.
“Lonoke County sent a clear message last night, and we’re just getting started,” he wrote 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.”
The post Arkansas Father Charged In Daughter’s Abuse Case Wins GOP Sheriff Primary appeared first on Real News Now.
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