In a distressing turn of events, a California judge has been apprehended on suspicion of killing his wife within their home, as announced by authorities on Friday.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson was taken into custody late Thursday after authorities received reports of a shooting at their residence. Officers discovered the judge’s wife, Sheryl Ferguson, shot inside the house, according to Anaheim police Sgt. Jon McClintock.
Tragically, she was pronounced dead at the scene in the upscale neighborhood of Anaheim Hills. The 72-year-old judge was subsequently arrested and transported to jail.
Online jail records indicate that he was detained in Santa Ana on $1 million bail but released on Friday after posting bond. Formal charges have not yet been filed against him.
Sgt. McClintock revealed that there was another individual present in the home at the time of the incident, but declined to disclose their identity or whether they were one of the individuals who alerted the police about the shooting.
Efforts were made to contact Ferguson’s attorney, Paul S. Meyer, but no response has been received thus far.
Elected as a judge in 2014 and assuming office in 2015, Ferguson primarily presides over criminal cases in the Fullerton courthouse of Orange County.
He embarked on his legal career in the Orange County district attorney’s office back in 1983, eventually specializing in narcotics cases and earning numerous accolades, according to the court.
During his tenure as a prosecutor, he was recognized as an “attorney of the year” by the North Orange County Bar Association, serving as its president from 2012 to 2014.
“This is an immensely tragic situation for everyone involved,” expressed Lorrie A. Walton, an active board member of the association, in an email statement.
In 2017, Ferguson faced admonishment from the Commission on Judicial Performance due to a Facebook post where he made a statement about a judicial candidate “with knowing or reckless disregard for the truth of the statement.” The agency’s findings also revealed that Ferguson was friends with attorneys appearing before him in court on Facebook.
Ferguson disclosed on his Facebook page that he grew up in a military family and spent his childhood traveling throughout Asia. He pursued further education in California and tied the knot with his wife in 1996.
Prior to this marriage, Ferguson was previously married and had a son with his ex-wife. He and Sheryl Ferguson had another son together, shared Juli Mitchell, sister of his ex-wife.
The Orange County Superior Court declined to provide additional details about the allegations on Friday.
“Although no case has been filed with our Court, when appropriate we will take all necessary steps to ensure full compliance with our legal and ethical obligations,” stated Orange County Superior Court Presiding Judge Maria Hernandez in a released statement.
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