Judge Charged With Killing Wife Released on $2M Bail

UPDATE Oct 29, 2024 2:35 PM CDT

A California judge charged with killing his wife has been released from jail on $2 million bail. Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson was released Friday from the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, jail records show. Ferguson, 74, was taken back into custody last month after the judge overseeing his case determined that he lied about drinking alcohol while he was out on bail, the AP reports. Ferguson pleaded not guilty last year to murder in the shooting death of his wife, Sheryl Ferguson. His lawyer at the time said it was accidental, though Ferguson texted his court clerk and bailiff, saying: " I just lost it. I just shot my wife. I won't be in tomorrow." He is still drawing his $220,000 salary, the Orange County Register reports.

Sep 24, 2024 7:27 PM CDT

A California judge was taken into custody Tuesday after another judge contended that he lied about drinking alcohol while out on bail on a charge of killing his wife. Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson's new bail was set at $2 million. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter said if Ferguson is able to pay it, he will be barred from attending any establishment that serves alcohol, the AP reports. "I hate it when people lie to me," Hunter said.

Ferguson was previously out on $1 million bail. He is charged with the murder of his wife last year and has pleaded not guilty. Ferguson was required to wear a GPS and alcohol monitor on his ankle as a condition of his prior bail—a condition that will remain if he makes bail again. The monitor registered that he had been drinking alcohol in late August. Ferguson told the court he had applied hand sanitizer and other medication to try to alleviate ankle swelling, which Hunter said was a "ridiculous story." Ferguson was placed in handcuffs and led out of the courtroom. He was remanded to the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

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Ferguson was arrested last year after police found his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, shot to death. Prosecutors said the couple had been arguing and Ferguson had been drinking when he pulled a pistol from an ankle holster and shot her in the chest. Authorities said they later found 47 weapons, including the pistol, and more than 26,000 rounds of ammunition at Ferguson's home.

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