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.
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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. The case was moved to Los Angeles County due to his job as a judge and his connections to the legal community in Orange County.
Ferguson's attorney said he isn't sure if his client will be able to make that bail.
Ferguson wears two ankle-monitor; one to keep track of his whereabouts and the other to monitor alcohol intake.
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.
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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.
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City News Service contributed to this report.