A judge has dismissed a murder charge against Arkansas sheriff candidate Aaron Spencer after ruling that key evidence was lost due to law enforcement mishandling of a dash camera memory card.

Spencer had been charged in connection with the 2024 shooting of a man accused of sexually abusing his teenage daughter, a case his defense said involved protecting his child.

The court found the loss of potential video evidence was serious enough to warrant dismissal of the case before trial.

Prosecutors had argued the shooting was planned, while Spencer maintained he acted in defense of his daughter, CBS News has reported.

The decision comes as Spencer continues his campaign for sheriff after winning the GOP nomination earlier this year.