A California judge accused of murdering his wife has been released from jail after posting a bail amount of $2 million.
The Orange County Superior Court Judge, Jeffrey Ferguson, was freed from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department custody on Friday, as indicated by online jail records.
At the age of 74, Ferguson was taken back into custody last month when the presiding judge in his case found that he had lied regarding his alcohol consumption while on bail.
Last year, he pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder in connection with the shooting of his spouse, Sheryl Ferguson, an incident his defense stated was accidental.
Authorities reported that the couple had been involved in an argument in August 2023 when Ferguson, who had been drinking, drew a firearm from an ankle holster and shot his wife in the chest.
After the incident, both Ferguson and his son placed a 911 call, and Ferguson sent text messages to his court clerk and bailiff stating: “I just lost it. I just shot my wife. I won’t be in tomorrow. I will be in custody. I’m so sorry,” according to court documents from prosecutors.
Following the tragic event, law enforcement discovered 47 firearms along with over 26,000 rounds of ammunition inside Ferguson’s residence.
The upcoming court hearing for Ferguson has been set for November 15, as confirmed by his attorney, Ed Welbourn.
