Orange County Superior Court Judge Charged with Murder in Shooting of Wife
ANAHEIM HILLS, Calif. – An Orange County Superior Court judge has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of his wife at their Anaheim Hills home, prosecutors announced on Friday.
Jeffrey Malcolm Ferguson, 72, is accused of killing his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, 65, on the evening of August 3. The shooting was reported shortly after 8 p.m. at their residence in the 8500 block of East Canyon Vista Drive.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Sheryl Ferguson suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Despite efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jeffrey Ferguson was taken into custody without incident and was later released on $1 million bail.
During the investigation at the scene, police obtained a search warrant and discovered a cache of weapons. A total of 47 firearms, including rifles, shotguns, and handguns, were recovered, along with over 26,000 rounds of ammunition. However, a .22 rifle registered to Ferguson remains unaccounted for, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.
Prosecutors have filed one count of felony murder against Jeffrey Ferguson, along with enhancements including personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury and death, and personal use of a firearm.
According to the criminal complaint, Ferguson used a Glock .40 in the shooting and had allegedly threatened his wife earlier in the evening by making a hand gesture indicative of pointing a gun at her.
Prosecutors revealed that Ferguson had sent text messages to his court clerk and bailiff after the murder, confessing to the crime. In the messages, he stated, “I just lost it. I just shot my wife. I won’t be in tomorrow. I will be in custody. I’m so sorry.”
Prosecutors are now seeking for Ferguson to surrender his passport and wear an ankle monitor.
Ferguson’s attorneys, Paul Meyer and John Barnett, issued a brief statement, describing the incident as a tragedy for the entire Ferguson family. They claimed it was an accident and nothing more.
Jeffrey Ferguson has been serving as a Superior Court judge in Orange County since 2015, handling criminal cases in Fullerton. He began his legal career in the Orange County district attorney’s office in 1983, specializing in narcotics cases. He has won various awards for his work and served as president of the North Orange County Bar Association from 2012 to 2014.
In 2017, Ferguson faced disciplinary action from the Commission on Judicial Performance for posting a statement on Facebook about a judicial candidate with disregard for the truth and for being Facebook friends with attorneys appearing before him in court.
The case has shocked the community and raised questions about the mental state of a sitting judge. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the case progresses.
ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
How will the discovery of a large number of weapons at their residence impact Jeffrey Ferguson’s case
Ount of murder against Jeffrey Malcolm Ferguson, a judge in Orange County Superior Court, for the shooting death of his wife, Sheryl Ferguson. The incident took place at their home in Anaheim Hills on August 3.
Law enforcement responded to the scene after receiving a report of a shooting. Sheryl Ferguson was found with at least one gunshot wound and despite medical efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jeffrey Ferguson, 72, was arrested without any resistance and later released on $1 million bail. During the investigation, police obtained a search warrant and discovered a large number of weapons at the residence. A total of 47 firearms, including rifles, shotguns, and handguns, along with over 26,000 rounds of ammunition were seized. However, a .22 rifle registered to Ferguson has not been located.
The Orange County district attorney’s office has charged Jeffrey Ferguson with one count of murder. He is scheduled to appear in court on a later date. The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation.
This is a shocking and tragic incident. Justice must be served, regardless of one’s position or status. Condolences to the victim’s family and friends.