Arkansas Judge Tosses Murder Charge Against Sheriff Nominee Over Lost Dash-Cam Evidence
Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. dismissed a second-degree murder charge against Aaron Spencer, the Republican nominee for Lonoke County sheriff, on Thursday, June 4, 2026.[1]
Wilson's written order said law-enforcement conduct was "so egregious that dismissal of this case is warranted." CBS News The judge centered his finding on the loss of a dash-camera memory card and resulting evidence damage.[2] A Lonoke County Sheriff's Office detective removed a dash camera from victim Michael Fosler's truck but did not log it into evidence and stored it in his personal office.[2] The battery drained, the device reset to default settings, and the internal memory card was missing when the camera reached the Arkansas attorney general's office for forensic examination.[2] Spencer's trial had been scheduled for June 22, making the dismissal occur just weeks before the planned trial date.[1]
Spencer won the Republican nomination for Lonoke County sheriff in March 2026, defeating a three-term incumbent whose office had previously arrested him.[2] Prosecutors argued Spencer planned the killing and could have called police while pursuing Michael Fosler; Spencer's defense said he acted to protect his daughter from an alleged predator.[2] In January the Arkansas Supreme Court removed the original trial judge, Barbara Elmore, for issuing an overly broad gag order that violated Spencer's rights, and Wilson was assigned to the case.[2]
After the dismissal, Spencer issued a statement thanking local, state and international supporters.[2] Defense attorney Erin Cassinelli said "no member of this family should ever again be forced to walk into a courtroom and relive this horror." CBS News Cassinelli added that "this father should have never been charged for protecting his child." CBS News Lonoke County has roughly 76,000 residents.[2]
Show source details & analysis (3 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. dismissed the second-degree murder charge against Aaron Spencer on Thursday, June 4, 2026, just weeks before his scheduled June 22, 2026 trial (Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr.).
- In a written order, Wilson found law-enforcement conduct 'so egregious that dismissal of this case is warranted,' centering his ruling on the loss of a dash-cam memory card (written order).
- A Lonoke County Sheriff's Office detective removed a dash camera from victim Michael Fosler's truck but failed to log it into evidence, stored it in his personal office where the battery drained and the device reset to default, and the internal memory card present at collection was missing when the camera reached the Arkansas attorney general's office for forensic examination (Lonoke County Sheriff's Office detective).
- Prosecutors had argued that Aaron Spencer planned the killing and could have called police while pursuing Michael Fosler, while Spencer's defense said he acted in self-defense to protect his daughter from an alleged predator (Aaron Spencer).
- Spencer won the Republican nomination for Lonoke County sheriff in March 2026 over a three-term incumbent, and Lonoke County has roughly 76,000 residents (Lonoke County).
- After the dismissal on Thursday, June 4, 2026, Spencer issued a statement thanking local, state and international supporters, and defense attorney Erin Cassinelli said 'no member of this family should ever again be forced to walk into a courtroom and relive this horror' and that 'this father should have never been charged for protecting his child' (Erin Cassinelli).
- The Arkansas Supreme Court had removed the original trial judge, Barbara Elmore, in January for issuing an overly broad gag order that violated Spencer's rights, which led to Wilson's assignment to the case (Barbara Elmore).
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Article confirms that on Thursday, June 4, 2026, Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. dismissed the second-degree murder charge against Aaron Spencer, the Republican nominee for Lonoke County sheriff.
- The New York Times account adds broader political and community context around Spencer's nomination fight and the local sheriff's office, complementing earlier CBS-focused coverage.
- The piece reinforces that the dismissal came just weeks before Spencer's scheduled June 22 trial and underscores that the lost dash-cam memory card was central to the judge's finding of egregious evidence mishandling.
- CBS reports that Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. dismissed the second-degree murder charge against Aaron Spencer on Thursday afternoon, June 4, 2026, just weeks before a June 22 trial date, explicitly citing law-enforcement mishandling of a dash camera memory card.
- Wilson's written order said law-enforcement conduct was 'so egregious that dismissal of this case is warranted,' a direct characterization of the evidence loss.
- New detail on the evidence mishandling: a Lonoke County Sheriff's Office detective removed the dash camera from victim Michael Fosler's truck, failed to log it into evidence immediately, stored it in his personal office, let the battery drain so the device reset to default settings, and the internal memory card present at collection was missing when the camera reached the Arkansas attorney general's office for forensic examination.
- The article restates that Spencer won the Republican nomination for Lonoke County sheriff in March 2026 over a three-term incumbent whose office had arrested him, and notes Lonoke County has roughly 76,000 residents.
- Spencer issued a new public statement on June 4 thanking local, state and international supporters, saying community support 'carried our family' and promising to spend the rest of his life trying to live up to it.
- Defense attorney Erin Cassinelli released a new statement saying 'no member of this family should ever again be forced to walk into a courtroom and relive this horror' and that 'this father should have never been charged for protecting his child.'
- The report reiterates prosecutors' theory that Spencer planned the killing and could have called police while pursuing Fosler, contrasting it with Spencer's self-defense narrative centered on protecting his daughter from a 'predator.'
- The article notes that the Arkansas Supreme Court had earlier removed the original trial judge, Barbara Elmore, from the case in January for issuing an overly broad gag order that violated Spencer's rights, leading to Wilson's assignment.