(DailyAnswer.org) – A California judge accused of murdering his wife is still collecting his full salary, even though he’s locked up in jail.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, 74, allegedly shot and killed his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, in their Anaheim Hills home on August 3, 2023. He was charged with several felonies, including murder, and is now being held at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles County.
Ferguson wasn’t always a judge. Before being appointed to the bench in 2015, he worked as a prosecutor. After the shooting, he was initially released on $1 million bail. However, he ended up back in jail when prosecutors said he violated his bail conditions by drinking alcohol, something he was banned from doing while awaiting trial.
Despite sitting behind bars, Ferguson is still receiving his salary. According to The Orange County Register, he made over $220,000 in 2023, plus $22,000 in benefits. Altogether, that’s $242,000 that keeps coming in, even though he’s not showing up for work.
Ferguson is facing serious charges. He’s been charged with felony murder and has two additional felony enhancements: one for personally using a firearm and another for discharging it, which caused death and severe injury. If found guilty on all counts, he could spend the rest of his life in prison, with a sentence ranging from 40 years to life.
Though Ferguson has pleaded not guilty, prosecutors said he admitted to the killing in a text message. Right after the shooting, he reportedly sent a message to his court clerk and bailiff saying, “I just shot my wife. I won’t be in tomorrow. I will be in custody. I’m so sorry.”
Prosecutors claim the tragic incident started as an argument between Ferguson and his wife at a restaurant. The fight continued when they returned home, and at some point, Ferguson pulled a gun from his ankle holster and shot Sheryl in the chest. Their adult son told investigators that his father had been drinking heavily at the time of the shooting.
As Ferguson waits for his day in court, questions remain about how long a judge accused of such a crime will keep getting paid by the state.
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