A Southern California decide who shot and killed his spouse throughout an argument over household funds was sentenced Wednesday to 35 years to life in jail.
The case roiled the authorized neighborhood in California’s Orange County the place many had identified or labored with him for many years.
Orange County Superior Court docket Choose Jeffrey Ferguson, sporting a inexperienced jail jumpsuit in courtroom, was sentenced for the second-degree homicide of his spouse, Sheryl, and felony gun enhancements.
Los Angeles Superior Court docket Choose Eleanor J. Hunter, who presided over the case to keep away from a battle of curiosity in Orange County, stated the proof in opposition to Ferguson was “completely overwhelming” together with a textual content message he despatched to courtroom workers instantly after the capturing saying “I simply misplaced it” and video recordings of him talking extensively whereas in custody.
Hunter stated she would shave 5 years off the utmost potential sentence of 40 years to life resulting from Ferguson’s lack of a prison document and assist from Sheryl Ferguson’s members of the family, amongst different components, however that Ferguson had repeatedly proven he doesn’t imagine the principles apply to him by ingesting whereas carrying a weapon — even whereas he was out on bond though he was barred from doing so.
“Mr. Ferguson believes the principles simply don’t apply to him,” Hunter stated.
Ferguson, 74, has claimed the 2023 capturing was unintended, however District Legal professional Todd Spitzer stated the proof confirmed it was “cold-blooded homicide.”
“He most probably, with this sentence, won’t ever see freedom on account of his age,” Spitzer advised reporters after the listening to.
In courtroom, Ferguson stated he cherished his spouse and was trying ahead to spending his life together with her and their household.
“I perceive the jury’s verdict nevertheless it was a horrific accident,” Ferguson stated, his voice cracking. “I’ve huge grief not for myself alone however for my son, Phillip, and Sheryl’s brothers.”
Prosecutors stated the longtime decide and former prison prosecutor pulled a gun from his ankle holster in August 2023 and fired the deadly shot after he had been ingesting and arguing with Sheryl over household funds at a restaurant and later whereas watching “Breaking Unhealthy” of their Anaheim Hills house.
The case roiled the authorized neighborhood in Orange County the place many have identified or labored with Ferguson for many years, together with Spitzer.
The county is house to three million individuals between Los Angeles and San Diego.
Throughout the sentencing listening to, Sheryl’s brother, Larry Rosen, and different relations requested the decide for leniency. Rosen stated he believes the capturing was an accident and worries about Ferguson’s grownup son, Phillip.
“My nephew has misplaced his mother and you will take away his dad,” Rosen stated, sobbing. “I perceive there may be culpability however I don’t assume it’s to the extent that’s been raised right here.”
In March, an preliminary jury deadlocked on the case and Hunter declared a mistrial. In April, a second jury convicted Ferguson of second-degree homicide and the gun enhancements.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors stated Ferguson had been ingesting earlier than he made a gun-like hand gesture towards his spouse of 27 years whereas arguing together with her at a Mexican restaurant on Aug. 3, 2023.
Prosecutors stated the quarrel continued at house whereas the couple was watching TV with Phillip, and Sheryl Ferguson challenged her husband to level an actual gun at her.
He did, then pulled the set off, prosecutors stated.
Ferguson, who had expertise and coaching in firearms, testified that he was eradicating the gun from his ankle holster to position it on a desk cluttered with different objects when he fumbled it resulting from an injured shoulder, and it went off.
Instantly after the capturing, Ferguson and his son known as 911, and Ferguson texted his courtroom clerk and bailiff saying, “I simply misplaced it. I simply shot my spouse. I received’t be in tomorrow. I might be in custody. I’m so sorry,” in keeping with a duplicate of a textual content message proven to jurors.
Ferguson spoke with police outdoors his house and whereas in custody.
In video proven at trial, he was seen sobbing and saying his son and everybody would hate him, and pleading for a jury to convict him.
After Ferguson’s arrest, authorities stated they discovered 47 weapons, together with the gun used within the capturing, and greater than 26,000 rounds of ammunition at his house.
Ferguson started his authorized profession within the district legal professional’s workplace in 1983 and went on to work on narcotics circumstances, successful numerous awards.
He grew to become a decide in 2015 and presided over prison circumstances within the Orange County metropolis of Fullerton, about 10 miles from the courtroom the place he was sentenced.
