A Southern California judge, Jeffrey Ferguson, 74, was found guilty of second-degree murder on Tuesday for the fatal shooting of his wife, Sheryl, 65, in their Anaheim Hills residence. The incident occurred in 2023 during a domestic dispute while the couple was watching television. Despite Ferguson’s claims that the shooting was accidental, the jury reached a verdict on Tuesday afternoon, following a day of deliberations.
Following the verdict, Ferguson was allowed a brief moment to embrace his son before he was handcuffed and taken into custody. The conviction also includes a felony gun enhancement, which could result in a maximum prison term of 40 years to life. The sentencing is scheduled for June 13.
Ferguson’s attorney, Cameron Talley, expressed respect for the jury’s decision but also voiced plans to appeal. He stated, “We all know that juries don’t always get it right … I still believe in Jeff.” This conviction follows a previous trial in March that ended in a deadlock, leading to a mistrial declared by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter. Hunter was assigned to the case to avoid a conflict of interest with the Superior Court in Orange County, where Ferguson had presided over criminal cases until the shooting.
The case has caused a stir in the county’s legal community, home to 3 million people and located between Los Angeles and San Diego. Many in the community have known or worked with Ferguson for years, including Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. Spitzer commented on the verdict, stating, “There are no winners here. Justice was achieved, but I’m very sad for the Ferguson family.”
Prosecutors argued that Ferguson had been drinking prior to making a gun-like hand gesture at his wife during a dispute over family finances. The argument reportedly continued at home, where Sheryl Ferguson allegedly dared her husband to point a real gun at her. According to prosecutors, he did and subsequently fired the weapon.
Ferguson maintained that he was attempting to remove the gun from his ankle holster to place it on a table when he accidentally discharged it. Following the shooting, both Ferguson and his son called 911. Ferguson also texted his court clerk and bailiff, expressing remorse and stating that he would be in custody.
Authorities discovered 47 weapons and over 26,000 rounds of ammunition at the Ferguson residence. They emphasized that Ferguson had extensive experience and training in firearms, leading them to conclude that the shooting was not accidental.
Ferguson, a former prosecutor who became a judge in 2015, had been out on $2 million bail but was not presiding in court due to state constitution restrictions on judges facing felony charges.