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California Judge Convicted of Second-Degree Murder for Shooting His Wife
A judge in Southern California was convicted Tuesday of second-degree murder following the tragic shooting of his wife during a domestic dispute. Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, aged 74, was found guilty in connection with the death of his wife, Sheryl, who was 65 years old, in their Anaheim Hills residence.
During the trial, Ferguson took the stand in his own defense and admitted to discharging his firearm, asserting that the incident was accidental. The jury deliberated for a full day before reaching their verdict on Tuesday afternoon. In addition to the murder charge, Ferguson was convicted of a felony gun enhancement, placing him at risk of facing a prison sentence ranging from 40 years to life, with sentencing scheduled for June 13.
Immediately following the verdict, Ferguson was seen embracing his son before being taken into custody in handcuffs.
Background of the Case
Prior to the trial, a jury had previously deadlocked on the case, prompting Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter to declare a mistrial. Judge Hunter was appointed to oversee the case to avoid any potential conflicts of interest given that Ferguson had previously presided over criminal matters in the same court.
Prosecutors detailed that the couple engaged in an argument over finances at a restaurant on August 3, 2023, which escalated upon their return home. Witnesses noted that during an interaction while watching television with their adult son, Sheryl made a comment urging Ferguson to point a real gun at her. Ferguson complied by retrieving a pistol from his ankle holster and subsequently shot her in the chest. Prosecutors indicated that Ferguson was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
In his testimony, Ferguson explained that his intent was merely to put the gun on a table when he accidentally fumbled it, leading to the gun discharging. Following the tragic event, both Ferguson and his son called emergency services, and Ferguson also messaged his court clerk, confessing to the incident. In his message, he expressed remorse stating, “I just lost it. I just shot my wife. I won’t be in tomorrow. I will be in custody. I’m so sorry.”
Ferguson’s son, Phillip, testified that he had to physically restrain his father to take away the firearm after the shooting and attempted to perform CPR on his mother.
After the shooting, Ferguson was seen on police body camera footage visibly upset, expressing regret and acknowledging the gravity of his actions. He admitted again during the interaction that he was responsible for his wife’s death and expressed a desire for conviction by a jury.
Authorities reported that a thorough search of Ferguson’s home revealed an extensive arsenal, including 47 firearms and over 26,000 rounds of ammunition, suggesting a significant level of familiarity and training with weapons.
District Attorney Todd Spitzer stated emphatically, “This was not an accident. Ferguson was trained to never point a gun at anything he didn’t intend to destroy.” Prior to his role as a judge, Ferguson had been a prosecutor, appointed to the bench in 2015.
Since the incident, Ferguson had been out on a $2 million bail but was prohibited from presiding over court cases, as mandated by the state constitution, which bars judges facing felony charges from conducting court proceedings.
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