Celebrity Chef Takes Plea Deal in Strangulation Case
Darnell Ferguson, a five-time contestant on Tournament of Champions, was arrested in January 2024 on seven criminal charges, including burglary, strangulation, terroristic threatening, assault, menacing, criminal mischief and theft-receipt of a stolen credit or debit card, according to WHAS 11.
The Louisville news network reported at the time that Ferguson was accused of illegally entering a then-unnamed woman's house and strangling her until she passed out, and threatening to kill her. The woman was later revealed to be his then-estranged wife, Tatahda Ferguson, with whom the chef shares eight children. He pleaded not guilty at the time, and his wife later said in a statement that she thought law enforcement "twisted" her words.
"I reacted in the heat of the moment after we had an intense argument, and called the police for a matter that really didn't warrant their involvement," said Tatahda's statement. "I believe my words were twisted by certain law enforcement officials who arelooking to make a name for themselves at the expense of my husband's celebrity status. Darnell is a good man! I have never felt unsafe or threatened by him and he hasalways been an incredible father to our children. It hurts my heart the way he's being vilified. I am coming forward to try and do what's right to clear his name and help our family heal."
Ferguson is a local celebrity in Kentucky for his now-closed SuperChefs restaurant, in addition to his various Food Network and Today appearances. He has advanced as high as the final four in Tournament of Champions, back in season 2 where he was defeated by eventual champion, .
Ferguson's case was scheduled to come to trial in May 2025, but the chef instead reached a plea agreement with the prosecutors. WLKY reports that as part of his plea deal, several charges were lowered, and he was sentenced to 12 months for the criminal mischief charge, but the jail time was "conditionally discharged for two years," which means Ferguson will not serve jail time unless a further offense is committed within the stated period of time.
The police department that arrested Ferguson released its own statement after the plea deal, responding to Tatahda's assertion that they misinterpreted the situation.
"In this particular case, our officers acted professionally and with the seriousness the situation deserved. We did not embellish or manufacture any aspect of the investigation. All charges and findings were based solely on the facts and evidence presented to us.
"We appreciate that Mr. Ferguson accepted some responsibility for his actions that day. Our hope is that he and his family are able to find healing and peace as they move forward. We remain committed to supporting all individuals impacted by domestic violence and to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community."
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