Arkansas man awaiting murder trial wins GOP primary for county sheriff

An Arkansas man awaiting trial for charges that he killed his daughter’s accused sexual abuser has won the Republican nomination for county sheriff, in a race that’s garnered national attention.

Aaron Spencer won more than 53% of the vote in Tuesday’s three-person primary for Lonoke County sheriff. Spencer will face Democratic nominee Brian Mitchell Sr. this fall.

“Tonight, the people of Lonoke County stood up and chose transparency and accountability,” Spencer said in a release from his campaign. “This wasn’t a campaign about me. It was about every family who called for help and got nothing. That betrayal ends tonight.”

Spencer, 37, was charged with second degree murder in the 2024 death of a man accused of sexually abusing Spencer’s teenage daughter. Spencer’s trial was originally scheduled for January but had been postponed. If Spencer is convicted of the felony charge, he’d be unable to serve as sheriff.



https://arkansasadvocate.com/2026/03/04/arkansas-man-awaiting-murder-trial-wins-gop-primary-for-county-sheriff/