LONOKE, Ark. (TDR) — An Arkansas father charged with murder after shooting the man accused of sexually assaulting his teenage daughter has launched an audacious bid to become sheriff of the very county prosecuting him. Aaron Spencer, 37, announced Friday he’s running for Lonoke County sheriff while out on bond awaiting a January trial that could send him to prison for decades.

“I’m the father who acted to protect his daughter when the system failed,” Spencer declared in a campaign video posted to Facebook that quickly went viral. The 82nd Airborne Division veteran and farmer positioned his legal troubles as proof the criminal justice system needs reform, promising to restore trust between law enforcement and families who feel abandoned.

The deadly confrontation

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10

MORE NEWS: Beef Prices Hit Record Highs as Parasite Closes Border

Spencer’s case has captured national attention since the early morning hours of Oct. 8, 2024, when his daughter’s chihuahua woke him with frantic barking. Upon checking the 14-year-old’s bedroom, Spencer discovered she’d fled — stuffing her bed with a hoodie-wrapped animal to fool her parents. His daughter had vanished with 67-year-old Michael Fosler, who faced over 40 child sex crime charges for allegedly grooming and assaulting the teen months earlier.

Despite facing multiple felony charges including internet stalking, sexual assault and possession of 36 counts of child sexual abuse material, Fosler had been released on $50,000 bond with a no-contact order. That order proved worthless. Spencer called 911 to report his daughter missing at 1:12 a.m., then jumped in his Ford truck to search the dark Arkansas roads.

Court documents reveal Spencer spotted Fosler’s white F-150 about 10 miles from their Carlisle home. He flashed his lights and honked his horn, trying to force the truck to stop. At the intersection of highways 236 East and 13 North, Spencer rammed Fosler’s vehicle, sending it into a ditch. What happened next remains contested, but the outcome is undisputed: Fosler died at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds to his chest, arms and abdomen from Spencer’s Glock 19.

I refuse to stand by while others face these same failures.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE THE DUPREE REPORT

Do you think President Trump should have won the Nobel Peace Prize?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from The Dupree Report, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

Spencer told investigators Fosler lunged at him saying “fu** you” while holding an unknown object, leaving him “no choice” but to open fire. He emptied his weapon, jumped on Fosler, pistol-whipped him, rescued his daughter from the truck, reloaded and called 911 again.

From murder charge to campaign trail

Prosecutors initially charged Spencer with first-degree murder before reducing it to second-degree murder in late November. Under Arkansas law, the charge involves “circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life” but doesn’t require premeditation. Spencer faces a trial date of Jan. 26, 2026 — just three months away.

His wife, Heather Spencer, launched a fundraising campaign calling her husband a “hero” and the arrest “outrageous.” She revealed the family had trusted the justice system to protect their daughter after Fosler’s arrest, only to watch him walk free on bond with minimal supervision. “We let the justice system do its job,” Heather wrote. “The monster who hurt our child was charged quickly, but released even faster.”

Public support has surged behind Spencer. A Change.org petition demanding charges be dropped has garnered over 350,000 signatures. His attorneys, Erin Cassinelli and Michael Kaiser, called him “a decorated war hero” whose “heroic actions protected his family,” accusing prosecutors of “perpetuating these horrors instead of protecting legitimate victims.”

Sheriff responds to challenger

MORE NEWS: Two Women Convicted in Brigitte Macron Libel Case

Current Sheriff John Staley, who has held the position since 2013, announced he’ll seek reelection. In a statement responding to Spencer’s candidacy, Staley emphasized his 12-year record while carefully avoiding direct comment on the pending case. “Since 2013, I have served as Sheriff of Lonoke County with a clear mission — to protect our citizens and hold those who break the law accountable,” Staley said.

The incumbent sheriff highlighted his focus on “three major threats to our communities: drug traffickers, sexual predators, and thieves.” His statement concluded with what some interpret as a subtle jab at Spencer’s vigilante justice: “My motto has been and will continue to be do what’s right, not what’s easy. Doing what’s right isn’t always popular.”

A campaign built on failure

Spencer’s unconventional platform centers on systemic failures he claims to have witnessed firsthand. “Through my own fight for justice, I have seen firsthand the failures in law enforcement and in our circuit court,” Spencer said in his announcement. “This 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.”

The case raises thorny questions about vigilante justice, prosecutorial discretion and whether a man charged with murder can simultaneously campaign to lead the agency that arrested him. Spencer’s pretrial hearing is scheduled for Dec. 16, meaning voters will watch his legal battle unfold in real time as he seeks to become the county’s top law enforcement officer.

Close

Can a community elect a sheriff who took the law into his own hands, or does justice require holding him accountable regardless of the circumstances?

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10