Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson entered a plea of not guilty to a murder charge in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday. According to the charge, Ferguson allegedly shot and killed his wife during an argument in their Anaheim Hills home.
Ferguson, who is 72 years old, was initially arrested and held on $1 million bail, but has since been released on bond. During the court hearing, Judge Ricardo R. Ocampo imposed several conditions for Ferguson’s release, including a ban on alcohol consumption and the surrender of his passport. Ferguson is also prohibited from frequenting establishments that primarily serve alcohol, such as bars and liquor stores. The judge further ordered Ferguson to refrain from possessing any dangerous weapons and instructed him to wear GPS and alcohol monitoring devices. However, a request by prosecutors to bar Ferguson from contacting one of his sons was denied.
A hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for Ferguson to go to trial has been scheduled for October 30. The proceedings were moved to Los Angeles County due to Ferguson’s association with the Orange County Superior Court.
Ferguson was charged with murder last week, along with sentencing enhancements for the use of a firearm causing death. The incident occurred on August 3 when Ferguson allegedly shot his wife, Sheryl, in their Anaheim Hills home. Outside the courthouse, Ferguson’s attorney, Paul Meyer, stated that the shooting was accidental and not a crime. Another attorney, John Barnett, expressed confidence that the jury would find Ferguson not guilty, emphasizing that there was no intent to kill or malice.
Sheryl Ferguson’s brother, Larry Rosen, described his sister as a wonderful and caring person and expressed shock over the tragedy. He also mentioned the emotional encounter he had with his brother-in-law in the courtroom.
The arrest took place on August 3 after the Anaheim Police Department responded to reports of a shooting in the Fergusons’ home. Sheryl Ferguson was found dead at the scene from at least one gunshot wound. Jeffrey Ferguson was subsequently booked into jail but later released on bond. During the investigation, authorities discovered several firearms and ammunition in the home, but one .22-caliber rifle registered to Ferguson has remained unaccounted for. Another rifle was later turned in by the defense.
According to Deputy District Attorney Christopher Alex, Jeffrey Ferguson shot his wife with a loaded .40 pistol, which he pulled from his ankle holster, while intoxicated. The shooting occurred after an argument at a restaurant and continued intermittently at the couple’s home for about an hour. Alex alleged that Sheryl Ferguson provoked her husband by suggesting he point a real gun at her, prompting him to retrieve his weapon and shoot her. Jeffrey Ferguson and his son both called 911, with the judge implying to the dispatcher that his wife needed medical assistance without directly admitting to the shooting. However, he later sent a text message to his court clerk and bailiff confessing to the crime.
During Ferguson’s arrest, officers noted his slurred speech and the smell of alcohol. Body-worn camera footage captured Ferguson expressing regret and acknowledging his actions. Subsequent blood tests revealed a blood-alcohol level of 0.06. Ferguson’s son informed authorities that his father becomes more volatile when drinking and arguing with his wife. He also revealed that his mother had previously confided in him about his father’s suicidal tendencies and an incident where his father discharged a firearm.
Jeffrey Ferguson began his legal career as a prosecutor in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office before becoming a judge in 2015. He has faced disciplinary action by the state Commission on Judicial Performance in the past for inappropriate Facebook comments and maintaining personal relationships with defense attorneys involved in his cases.
Sheryl Ferguson worked for the Santa Barbara and Orange County probation departments before she became a full-time mother. She was highly involved in the community, particularly with the Boy Scouts. A memorial service was held in her honor, where family, friends, and community members paid tribute to her.
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