California Judge Charged with Drunkenly Killing Wife in Tragic Shooting Incident A California judge is facing charges after allegedly killing his wife in a drunken state using a gun he kept in an ankle holster. Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, who sits on Orange County Superior Court, appeared in court on Tuesday where shocking details of the incident were revealed.

According to prosecutors, Ferguson had numerous firearms, totaling 47, and 26,000 rounds of ammunition in his home when officers arrived to find his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, dead from a gunshot wound to the chest. The court heard that the judge smelled strongly of alcohol at the time of his arrest and reportedly stated to police, "Well, I guess I'm done for a while."

The argument between Ferguson and his wife started during dinner at a restaurant near their affluent Anaheim suburb home. The dispute escalated when the judge pointed his finger at his wife, mimicking a firearm. Sheryl responded by challenging him to point a real gun at her.

Tragically, Ferguson retrieved his pistol from his ankle holster and shot his wife at close range. He immediately called 911, requesting a paramedic and informing them that his wife had been shot. When asked if he had fired the weapon, Ferguson refused to discuss the matter further.

Shortly after the incident, the judge texted his court clerk and bailiff, admitting that he had lost control and shot his wife. "I just lost it. I just shot my wife. I won't be in tomorrow. I will be in custody. I'm so sorry," he wrote. During his court appearance, Ferguson pleaded not guilty to murder.

His lawyer, Paul Meyer, stated that the shooting was unintentional and accidental, maintaining that no crime was committed. The defense is confident that a jury will agree with their interpretation of the events. Ferguson has been released on bail but is subject to strict conditions, including surrendering his passport, wearing monitoring devices for blood alcohol content and GPS, and abstaining from alcohol and firearms.

He is expected to appear in court again on October 30. The arrest of Judge Jeffrey Ferguson has sent shockwaves through the Southern California legal community. Officials are currently deliberating on how to handle the high-profile case. As the investigation continues, the tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers associated with the misuse of firearms and the devastating consequences that can result from alcohol-induced actions.