California judge Jeffrey Ferguson pleads not guilty to murdering his wife despite shooting her during a drunken brawl, then texting colleagues a confession
- Judge Jeffrey Ferguson shot dead his wife Sharilyn in their home on August 3
- He pleaded not guilty to murder today, insisting it was an accident
The California judge who shot his wife and then texted his colleagues a confession adding “I won’t be here today,” pleaded not guilty to murder today, insisting it was an “accident.”
Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, 72, shot and killed his wife Sheryl at their Orange County home after the couple became involved in a heated, drunken argument.
Prosecutors say he pulled a gun from his ankle holster and then shot her in the chest.
He texted colleagues afterwards saying, “I just lost it. I just shot my wife. I won’t be there tomorrow. I will be in custody. I’m very sorry.’
Judge Jeffrey Ferguson arrives in court today to plead not guilty to murder
On August 3, Ferguson shot and killed his wife Sheryl at their home in Anaheim Hills, Orange County
Ferguson was charged with murder and his bail was set at $1 million.
He posted it yesterday, but returned to court today to face charges.
Today his lawyers told the court that he should not be convicted of murder.
“This was an accidental shooting and not a crime,” attorney Paul Meyer said.
Ferguson was ordered to surrender his passport and submit to GPS monitoring. His blood alcohol content will also be monitored by a device and he is prohibited from owning any weapons.
He has dozens of firearms, prompting investigators to request that he be denied bail.
Ferguson has been a judge since 2015.
Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, 72, shot and killed his wife Sheryl at their Orange County home after the couple became involved in a heated, drunken argument. He pleaded not guilty to murder today
The judge’s $1.4 million home where he shot his wife earlier this week
Police seized nearly 50 guns from the home and 26,000 cartridges on August 4
Another of the big guns found in the judge’s house last week
He began his legal career in 1983 with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and subsequently worked on drug cases, for which he won several awards.
He served as president of the North Orange County Bar Association from 2012 to 2014.
In 2017, Ferguson was admonished by the Commission on Judicial Performance for posting a statement on Facebook about a trial candidate “with knowing or reckless disregard for the truth of the statement,” and for being Facebook friends with lawyers who represent him. appeared in court, according to a copy of the agency’s findings.
Ferguson said on his Facebook page that he grew up in a military family and traveled around Asia as a child.
He went to college and law school in California. He and his wife married in 1996.
Jeffrey Ferguson in court today with his lawyers. They insisted it was an accident