A 74-year-old superior court judge in California was convicted of second-degree murder this week, following a mistrial in March, for murdering his wife in their home after a “drunken argument over money,” with prosecutors claiming he confessed to the fatal shooting in a text message to his court clerk and bailiff just minutes after the shooting.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson was found guilty on Tuesday after seven hours of jury deliberation over two days, according to local ABC affiliate KABC.
Prosecutors announced Ferguson’s conviction in a press release, describing how he was arrested in August 2023 after his 22-year-old son, Phillip Ferguson, called 911 to report his mother’s shooting. Phillip claims Ferguson opened fire on his wife of 27 years, Sheryl Ferguson, 65, after she said, “Why don’t you point a real gun at me?”
Ferguson made the statement after pretending to point a gun at her during an argument over dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant.
“Instead of helping his wife, Sheryl, after shooting her while they were sitting in their living room watching television, Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, then 72, went outside and texted his court bailiff and clerk,” the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday.
“I’ve just lost it. “I just shot my wife,” Ferguson informed his clerk and bailiff. “I will not be in tomorrow. I’ll be in custody. I’m very sorry.”
After his verdict was read, Ferguson reportedly requested permission to hug and say goodbye to Phillip Ferguson.
“It’s OK,” he said, according to KABC. “Be strong.”
According to Law&Crime, Ferguson shot his wife in the chest with a loaded.40 caliber pistol he pulled from an ankle holster.
His lawyer, Paul Meyer, told Law&Crime earlier this year that the incident “was an accident and nothing more.”
Ferguson’s first trial ended with the jurors failing to reach a unanimous decision. His son testified at the second trial, describing how a disagreement over the paternity of his older brother from years prior had caused problems between the couple. He also remembered the moment he found his mother.
“Next thing I did was I jumped over the edge of the couch to get the gun from my dad,” Phillip Ferguson testified, according to the Daily Journal.
Phillip described his father’s post-fight behavior as apologizing rather than raising his voice.
Ferguson was still wearing the empty ankle holster when patrol officers approached him, and “he asked patrol officers to shoot him,” according to court documents obtained by Law&Crime. “He slurred words and smelled of alcohol,” the documents stated.
Ferguson was caught on police body camera making obscenities, including: “f— … f— …” What the f— did I… I guess I’m done for a while. s—.”
During a search of his home, police discovered 47 guns (rifles, shotguns, and a handgun) and over 26,000 rounds of ammunition, all of which he legally owned.
Ferguson, a former member of the United States Navy, began his legal career as a deputy district attorney at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, where he worked for over 30 years. Ferguson was in charge of preliminary hearings for felony calendar cases in Orange County prior to his arrest. He has been a judge since 2015 and was named Prosecutor of the Year four times by the Orange County Narcotic Officers Association.