Ferguson sentencing delayed

Lincoln County District Judge Matthew Cuffe held off on sentencing a Eureka man accused of sexually assaulting a minor earlier this week.

Authorities initially brought William James Ferguson, 48, up on two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and a single charge of sexual assault. Ferguson pleaded not guilty to all three in May.

He struck a plea agreement with prosecutors in mid-August. Under the terms of the deal, Ferguson pleaded guilty to both counts of sexual intercourse without consent and the county attorney’s office agreed to dismiss, with prejudice, the sexual assault charge.

But Cuffe said he was unsure if the agreement reached between prosecutors and the defendant was allowable under state statutes.

Were Cuffe to accept the terms of the deal, Ferguson would receive two 20-year sentences with all but four years suspended. The sentences were to run concurrent.

He invited the prosecutorial team and defense counsel to submit memorandums by Sept. 28 to clarify the matter.

Authorities arrested Ferguson after he was caught watching a 15-year-old changing clothes and showering through a window in February. According to court documents, he had placed a ladder against the side of the girl’s home to gain the vantage.

The victim told authorities she knew Ferguson and that he had sexually abused her, usually at night, since she was nine.

Upon questioning, Ferguson admitted that he had sexually assaulted the girl multiple times to Duane Rhodes, a detective with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, according to court documents.