Bond revoked for OC judge, accused of consuming alcohol while awaiting trial for wife's murder

An Orange County judge accused of shooting and killing his wife was taken into custody Tuesday after his bond was revoked for allegedly violating the terms of his release while awaiting trial.

Judge Jeffrey Ferguson was accused of drinking alcohol, a violation of the terms of his bail. He has been awaiting trial for the Aug. 2023 shooting of his 65-year-old wife, Sheryl Ferguson, at their Anaheim Hills home. He has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge.

An Orange County judge pleaded not guilty to a murder charge for allegedly shooting and killing his wife during an argument in their Anaheim Hills home.

Ferguson was handcuffed during a hearing Tuesday after Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter revoked his $1 million bail, and reset his bail amount at $2 million.

He claimed his ankle-monitor was causing him discomfort, and alcohol from hand sanitizer he used to soothe his skin triggered the monitoring system.

An expert on ankle monitors said the bracelet is designed to only indicate alcohol consumption.

Ferguson is due back in court Nov. 1, when a trial date is expected to be set.

An Orange County Superior Court judge has been ordered to stand trial on a murder charge for allegedly shooting his wife to death during an argument.

Ferguson said in court papers that he suffers from "intermittent symptoms associated with a chronic kidney failure condition that I have had for the past several years, that includes periods of lower leg edema and swelling from time to time."

He noticed "mild swelling in his legs the morning of Aug. 26, but it went away overnight, but by the next day the swelling returned and it made the ankle bracelet "snug," Ferguson said.

The swelling ultimately progressed enough that the bracelet "was now deeply pressed into my left lower leg," which led to "severe discomfort," Ferguson said.

When he tried to adjust the bracelet for relief, he noticed it was "reddened" and his skin was "chafed and discolored," he said.

He used the hand sanitizer to ward off infection, he said.

"I have not consumed alcohol for over a year, and I did not consume any alcohol on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29, 2024," he said in court papers.

Ferguson is prohibited from drinking alcohol as he awaits trial. Prosecutors alleged he was intoxicated when he shot his wife.

The judge had been free on $1 million bond since shortly after his arrest.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office has gotten the green light to prosecute the case against an Orange County Superior Court Judge accused of murdering his wife. Meanwhile, we're learning more about a case that judge was assigned to.

City News Service contributed to this report.