Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to a murder charge accusing him of fatally shooting his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, during an argument in their Anaheim Hills home. His lawyer claims that the shooting was accidental. Ferguson, 72, was initially held on $1 million bail but has since been released on bond. The conditions of his release include a prohibition on alcohol consumption, surrendering his passport, wearing a GPS device, and staying within Orange, Riverside, or Los Angeles counties. He is also barred from possessing any weapons or ammunition and must avoid places where alcohol is the primary business.
The incident occurred on August 3 at the couple’s residence on East Canyon Vista Drive. Police found Sheryl Ferguson, 65, with at least one gunshot wound and pronounced her dead at the scene. Ferguson’s attorneys insist that the shooting was unintentional. After the hearing, Ferguson’s lawyers reiterated their belief that this was not a crime, but an accidental discharge of a firearm.
Larry Rosen, Sheryl Ferguson’s brother, expressed his shock at the situation and described his sister as a caring and selfless person. He revealed that it was unbearable when Ferguson looked at him in the courtroom.
According to the Orange County district attorney’s office, Ferguson texted his court clerk and bailiff after the murder, confessing to the shooting and saying that he would be in custody. The court document also noted that Ferguson made a hand gesture pointing a gun at his wife earlier that evening and that their adult son called 911 to report that his father had been drinking heavily and shot his mother. When officers arrived, Ferguson smelled of alcohol and expressed disbelief at his actions.
During the investigation at the scene, police found 47 weapons, including rifles, shotguns, and handguns, as well as over 26,000 rounds of ammunition. One rifle registered to Ferguson remains unaccounted for. However, the defense argued that all weapons are currently accounted for.
Due to Ferguson’s occupation and his personal and professional relationships with other judges in the Orange County court system, the case was moved to Los Angeles. Attorney Lou Shapiro believes that the case will likely take two to three years to go to trial due to its complexity.
The next court hearing is scheduled for October 30, where a date will be set to determine if there is enough evidence for Ferguson to stand trial. The judge’s reputation and the seriousness of the crime make it challenging for him to receive a fair trial, according to Shapiro.