An Orange County judge with a history as a prosecutor now faces up to 40 years to life in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder for shooting his wife during an argument at their home last year.
At a Glance
- Judge Jeffrey Ferguson was found guilty of second-degree murder for fatally shooting his wife Sheryl in their Anaheim Hills home in 2023
- Ferguson claimed the shooting was accidental, but prosecutors argued his extensive firearms training contradicted this defense
- The conviction came after a retrial, as a previous jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of conviction
- Authorities discovered 47 weapons and over 26,000 rounds of ammunition at Ferguson’s residence
- Ferguson faces 40 years to life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for June 13
From Respected Judge to Convicted Murderer
A Southern California courtroom delivered justice in an unusual case where the defendant was one of their own. After a day of deliberations, jurors convicted Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson of second-degree murder in the 2023 fatal shooting of his wife, Sheryl Ferguson. The incident occurred at the couple’s Anaheim Hills home following an argument about finances. Ferguson, who had been a judge since 2015 after a lengthy career as a prosecutor, was immediately taken into custody following the verdict.
The conviction came after a previous trial ended in a mistrial when jurors deadlocked 11-1 in favor of conviction. In the retrial, which was presided over by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter to avoid conflicts of interest, jurors also found Ferguson guilty of a felony gun enhancement, which contributes to his potential maximum sentence of 40 years to life in prison.
Fatal Argument and Aftermath
According to court testimony, the fatal incident occurred after the Fergusons had been drinking and arguing at a restaurant. The dispute continued when they returned home, where Ferguson shot his wife in the chest with a .40-caliber Glock handgun. Their son testified that he disarmed his father and attempted CPR on his mother. Following the shooting, Ferguson sent a text message to his court clerk and bailiff acknowledging what he had done.
“I just lost it. I just shot my wife,” Ferguson texted, according to prosecutors.
While Ferguson maintained throughout both trials that the shooting was accidental, claiming the gun discharged while he was removing it from an ankle holster, prosecutors successfully argued that his extensive firearms training and experience contradicted this defense. A search of Ferguson’s home revealed 47 weapons and more than 26,000 rounds of ammunition, highlighting his familiarity with firearms.
Professional Implications and Reaction
The case has had far-reaching implications beyond the personal tragedy. It was revealed during the trial that Ferguson had consumed alcohol during lunch breaks before returning to hear cases, prompting a review of his past judicial decisions. Before the verdict, Ferguson had been on $2 million bail but was barred from presiding over cases due to the felony charge.
“This was not an accident. Ferguson was trained to never point a gun at anything he didn’t intend to destroy,” Spitzer said in a statement about the verdict.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, who acknowledged having known the Fergusons for decades, described the case as emotionally challenging. Ferguson’s attorney, Cameron Talley, expressed respect for the jury’s decision while indicating plans to appeal the verdict. “The jury made its statement; we respect that,” Talley said after the conviction was announced. Ferguson’s sentencing is scheduled for June 13, where he faces the possibility of spending the remainder of his life behind bars.
