California Judge Convicted Of Second-degree Murder For Fatally Shooting His Wife

A Southern California judge was convicted Tuesday of second-degree execution for nan fatal shooting of his woman during an argument.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, 74, was connected proceedings for nan 2023 sidesplitting of his woman Sheryl, 65, successful their Anaheim Hills home. Ferguson took nan guidelines successful his defense and admitted to shooting his woman but claimed it was an accident.

Jurors reached their determination Tuesday day aft deliberating since nan time before. He was besides recovered blameworthy of a felony weapon enhancement and faces a maximum of 40 years to life successful situation erstwhile he is sentenced June 13.

Once nan verdict was publication successful court, Ferguson was seen hugging his boy earlier he was handcuffed and taken into custody.

JUDGE DECLARES MISTRIAL IN CASE AGAINST CALIFORNIA JUDGE ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS WIFE

Orange County Superior Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, left, embraces his son, Phillip Ferguson, earlier being led distant successful handcuffs connected Tuesday, April 22, 2025, successful Santa Ana, California. (AP)

Ferguson's attorney, Cameron Talley, said nan defense plans to entreaty nan verdict.

"I respect nan jury's verdict," Talley said. "At nan aforesaid time, we each cognize that juries don't ever get it correct ... I still judge successful Jeff."

The verdict comes aft a erstwhile assemblage deadlocked past period and Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter declared a mistrial. Hunter was overseeing nan lawsuit to debar a conflict of liking pinch nan Superior Court successful Orange County, wherever Ferguson presided complete criminal cases earlier nan shooting.

Prosecutors said Ferguson and his woman had an statement astir finances astatine a edifice connected Aug. 3, 2023, erstwhile he made a gun-like manus motion toward her. They continued their statement erstwhile they returned location arsenic they watched TV pinch their big son, and Ferguson's woman chided him to constituent a existent weapon astatine her. He obliged, pulling a pistol from his ankle holster earlier shooting her successful nan chest.

Ferguson was drunk astatine nan time, according to prosecutors.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, right, pinch his attorney's Cameron Talley, center, and Frances Prizzia, left, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, successful Santa Ana, California. (AP)

He testified that he was pulling nan weapon from his ankle holster to spot it connected a array erstwhile he fumbled it and it discharged.

After nan shooting, Ferguson and his boy some called 911, and Ferguson texted his tribunal clerk and bailiff confessing to nan killing.

"I conscionable mislaid it. I conscionable changeable my wife. I won’t beryllium successful tomorrow. I will beryllium successful custody. I’m truthful sorry," Ferguson wrote.

His boy Phillip testified that he tackled his begetter to wrestle nan weapon distant aft nan shooting and that he performed CPR connected his mother.

Ferguson spoke pinch police extracurricular his location and again erstwhile he was successful custody. He was seen connected video sobbing and saying his boy and everyone would dislike him. He besides admitted he killed his woman and asked for a assemblage to convict him.

CALIFORNIA JUDGE WHO ALLEGEDLY KILLED HIS WIFE CONTINUES TO RECEIVE NEARLY $250K SALARY

Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson is consoled by his attorney, Cameron Talley, aft nan verdict was publication Tuesday, April 22, 2025, successful Santa Ana, California. (AP)

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Authorities said they recovered 47 weapons, including nan weapon utilized successful nan shooting, and much than 26,000 rounds of ammunition successful nan home. They said Ferguson had acquisition and training successful firearms.

"This was not an accident. Ferguson was trained to ne'er constituent a weapon astatine thing he didn’t intend to destroy," Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said successful a statement.

Ferguson was a charismatic earlier he became a judge successful 2015.

He had been retired connected $2 cardinal bail but was not presiding successful tribunal arsenic nan authorities constitution prohibits a judge facing a felony charge from proceeding cases.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.