A Southern California justice was convicted Tuesday of second-degree execution for the fatal shooting of his woman during an argument.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, 74, was connected proceedings for the 2023 sidesplitting of his woman Sheryl, 65, successful their Anaheim Hills home. Ferguson took the basal successful his defence and admitted to shooting his woman but claimed it was an accident.
Jurors reached their determination Tuesday day aft deliberating since the time before. He was besides recovered blameworthy of a felony weapon enhancement and faces a maximum of 40 years to beingness successful situation erstwhile helium is sentenced June 13.
Once the verdict was work successful court, Ferguson was seen hugging his lad earlier helium was handcuffed and taken into custody.
JUDGE DECLARES MISTRIAL IN CASE AGAINST CALIFORNIA JUDGE ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS WIFE

Orange County Superior Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, left, embraces his son, Phillip Ferguson, earlier being led distant successful handcuffs connected Tuesday, April 22, 2025, successful Santa Ana, California. (AP)
Ferguson's attorney, Cameron Talley, said the defence plans to entreaty the verdict.
"I respect the jury's verdict," Talley said. "At the aforesaid time, we each cognize that juries don't ever get it close ... I inactive judge successful Jeff."
The verdict comes aft a erstwhile assemblage deadlocked past period and Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter declared a mistrial. Hunter was overseeing the lawsuit to debar a struggle of involvement with the Superior Court successful Orange County, wherever Ferguson presided implicit transgression cases earlier the shooting.
Prosecutors said Ferguson and his woman had an statement astir finances astatine a edifice connected Aug. 3, 2023, erstwhile helium made a gun-like manus motion toward her. They continued their statement erstwhile they returned location arsenic they watched TV with their big son, and Ferguson's woman chided him to constituent a existent weapon astatine her. He obliged, pulling a pistol from his ankle holster earlier shooting her successful the chest.
Ferguson was drunk astatine the time, according to prosecutors.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, right, with his attorney's Cameron Talley, center, and Frances Prizzia, left, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, successful Santa Ana, California. (AP)
He testified that helium was pulling the weapon from his ankle holster to spot it connected a array erstwhile helium fumbled it and it discharged.
After the shooting, Ferguson and his lad some called 911, and Ferguson texted his tribunal clerk and bailiff confessing to the killing.
"I conscionable mislaid it. I conscionable changeable my wife. I won’t beryllium successful tomorrow. I volition beryllium successful custody. I’m truthful sorry," Ferguson wrote.
His lad Phillip testified that helium tackled his begetter to wrestle the weapon distant aft the shooting and that helium performed CPR connected his mother.
Ferguson spoke with constabulary extracurricular his location and again erstwhile helium was successful custody. He was seen connected video sobbing and saying his lad and everyone would hatred him. He besides admitted helium killed his woman and asked for a assemblage to convict him.
CALIFORNIA JUDGE WHO ALLEGEDLY KILLED HIS WIFE CONTINUES TO RECEIVE NEARLY $250K SALARY

Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson is consoled by his attorney, Cameron Talley, aft the verdict was work Tuesday, April 22, 2025, successful Santa Ana, California. (AP)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Authorities said they recovered 47 weapons, including the weapon utilized successful the shooting, and much than 26,000 rounds of ammunition successful the home. They said Ferguson had acquisition and grooming successful firearms.
"This was not an accident. Ferguson was trained to ne'er constituent a weapon astatine thing helium didn’t mean to destroy," Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said successful a statement.
Ferguson was a authoritative earlier helium became a justice successful 2015.
He had been retired connected $2 cardinal bail but was not presiding successful tribunal arsenic the authorities constitution prohibits a justice facing a felony complaint from proceeding cases.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.