Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, 72, pleaded not guilty to a murder charge that alleges he shot his wife during an argument in their Anaheim Hills home. The judge, who was initially held on $1 million bail, has been released on bond. The court has imposed certain conditions on his release, such as a ban on alcohol consumption, surrendering his passport, and staying away from establishments that primarily serve alcohol. The judge is also prohibited from possessing any deadly weapons, and he must wear a GPS device and an alcohol monitoring device. However, the court rejected a request by prosecutors to restrict his contact with his son who was present during the shooting. A hearing is scheduled for October 30 to evaluate whether there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial. The case was moved to Los Angeles County due to the judge’s affiliation with the Orange County Superior Court.
Ferguson has been charged with murder and faces sentencing enhancements for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death and the personal use of a firearm. His attorneys claim that the shooting was unintentional and accidental, not a deliberate crime. One of the victim’s brothers described the incident as a tragedy and expressed shock and grief over the loss of his sister.
The arrest was made after Ferguson’s wife was found dead with at least one gunshot wound in their home in August. The District Attorney’s Office expressed concern over a missing .22-caliber rifle registered to Ferguson. However, defense attorneys later turned in another rifle that the police had missed. According to the prosecutor, Ferguson shot his wife in the chest with a loaded .40 pistol while intoxicated. The altercation began during a dinner at a restaurant near their home and continued for about an hour before the shooting occurred. The son witnessed the incident but characterized it as an accidental discharge and did not see the shooting take place.
Jeffrey Ferguson has had a long career in the legal field, serving as a senior prosecutor in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office before becoming a judge in 2015. In 2017, he was admonished by the state Commission on Judicial Performance for misconduct on social media.
Sheryl Ferguson had previously worked for the Santa Barbara and Orange County probation departments. She was described as an active community member involved in organizations such as the Boy Scouts. A memorial service was held to honor her contributions and her impact on the lives of many.
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