On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, The Associated Press reported that Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson was taken back into custody after being accused of violating the terms of his bail.
Ferguson has been charged with murder in the death of his wife Sheryl Ferguson last year. He has pleaded not guilty in the case. As a condition of his $1 million bail, Ferguson was required to wear an ankle monitor to detect any alcohol consumption.
At a hearing in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Judge Eleanor J. Hunter said Ferguson’s ankle monitor had detected alcohol in his system in late August, violating his bail conditions. Ferguson claimed he had applied hand sanitizer and medication to his ankle to treat swelling. However, Judge Hunter did not find his explanation credible, saying it was a “ridiculous story.”
Judge Hunter increased Ferguson’s bail to $2 million and ordered he be placed in handcuffs and remanded into custody. If Ferguson is able to post the new bail amount, he will be barred from any establishment that serves alcohol.
During the hearing, a representative from the company that manufactures the ankle monitor testified that normal use of hand sanitizer would not trigger an alcohol reading. The readings from Ferguson’s monitor were consistent with alcohol consumption, not incidental exposure from other products.
Ferguson’s attorney, Ed Welbourn, argued his client is not a danger to society and asked the court to consider less restrictive bail conditions due to Ferguson’s health issues. However, Deputy District Attorney Seton Hunt maintained it was clear Ferguson had violated his previous bail terms.
Ferguson was originally arrested in August 2023 in relation to the death of his wife Sheryl. Prosecutors allege the couple had been arguing and Ferguson was drinking when he shot her in the chest with a pistol from his ankle holster. He then called 911 and later admitted to shooting his wife in texts to court staff.
During their investigation, authorities found 47 firearms and over 26,000 rounds of ammunition at Ferguson’s home. He has served as an Orange County Superior Court judge since 2015 and previously worked in the Orange County District Attorney’s office for many years.
The case has attracted attention due to Ferguson’s position as a sitting judge. Hearings are being held in Los Angeles County to avoid any conflicts within the Orange County court system. Ferguson remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court again on November 1st for a pre-trial hearing.
Source: The Associated Press
