Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, who is currently on trial for allegedly murdering his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, testified that her death was a result of an accident. The 74-year-old judge, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, took the stand on February 24, 2025, and described how the tragic incident occurred on August 3, 2023.
According to Ferguson, he never intended to harm his wife, explaining that the shooting was an accident. He admitted that he had broken the rules of his concealed carry permit by carrying a gun while drinking, but he denied that the shooting was deliberate. “I didn’t mean to kill her. It was an accident,” he told the court, according to reports from CBS News and the Associated Press.
Prosecutors presented a different version of events in court, claiming that Ferguson and his wife had been arguing. They said Ferguson pointed his finger at her to mimic a gun, prompting his wife to say something like, “Why don’t you use a real gun?” The prosecution argued that in response to her words, Ferguson took out a pistol from his ankle holster and shot her.
However, Ferguson gave a different account. He explained that earlier that evening, he and his wife had been at a Mexican restaurant with their son Phillip, where they argued for his financial support for his son Kevin from a previous marriage.
Ferguson admitted that he had consumed several drinks during dinner, including a beer and a rum and soda. When asked in court if he considered himself an alcoholic, Ferguson admitted, “I drank too much and was in denial so I suppose I was.”
After dinner, they returned home and watched the TV show “Breaking Bad.” Ferguson said he tried to make up with his wife, but she refused to reconcile. As the night went on, Ferguson said he began feeling the effects of alcohol and thought he heard his wife say, “Why don’t you put that gun away from me?” He testified that he then took the gun from his ankle holster and placed it on the coffee table to “defuse” the situation.
However, Ferguson claimed that his attempt to place the gun on the table was unsuccessful due to his physical condition, including his weight and shoulder injuries. “My arm failed, I got a shooting pain and my arm dropped,” he said. “I reflexively grabbed it. I didn’t want to drop it on the floor. It fired. When I grabbed it my finger came off the trigger guard and must have hit the trigger.”
Ferguson recalled seeing his wife with a “surprised look” on her face before she stood up from her chair and collapsed to the floor. His son Phillip then reportedly tackled him and told him to let go of the gun. Ferguson eventually did so and instructed his son to “call 911.”
Ferguson faces multiple charges, including one felony count of murder, one count of felony enhancement for the personal use of a firearm, and one count of felony enhancement for discharging the firearm, which caused great bodily injury and death.
The incident occurred on August 3, 2023, when his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, was found dead at their home. The trial continues, and Judge Ferguson is expected to give further testimony on February 25, 2025.
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