Darnell 'SuperChef' Ferguson pleads guilty to misdemeanor charges over incident with wife

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Celebrity "SuperChef" and former Louisville restaurant owner Darnell Ferguson pleaded guilty to lesser charges Tuesday, the day he was to stand trial for allegedly assaulting and strangling his wife last year.

Ferguson, who arrived in court with his wife, Tatahda Ferguson, maintained he didn't assault her and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief and harassment, with no jail time.

Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Susan Schultz Gibson followed the recommended sentence of one year in jail, which will be conditionally discharged for two years. That means he will avoid jail as long as he stays out of trouble. He also must pay a $250 fine.

He faced up to 30 years in prison if convicted at trial.

He admitted the couple got into an argument, he pushed her and punched a door, according to the guilty plea.

Gibson asked Tatahda Ferguson if she was satisfied with the plea, and she said she was.

News | Crime | Business | Community

"I'm happy to move forward," Darnell Ferguson told reporters Tuesday as he stood with his wife. "The plea deal shows the charges weren't what they were. We're happy just to move forward with life. This is great for the family."

Assistant Jefferson Commonwealth's Attorney Max Gosman said this case, like many others, looked different as it progressed.

"Sometimes, the case you begin with looks a lot different factually based on a lot of different circumstances when you reach the end of the case," he told reporters. "I think the offenses that were pled to were commensurate" with what he would be able to prove at trial.

The charges, which Darnell Ferguson said last year were "bogus," stemmed from an incident in January 2024.

Police testified that Ferguson broke into the home of the mother of three of his children, got "upset" when he found a man in her bed and strangled her.

In a hearing last year, St. Matthews Detective Mark Richardson testified police have pictures of her injuries, blood on her clothing, her statements, a hole punched in the wall and statements from the man initially in the home.

The couple indicated her words were twisted by law enforcement officials trying to make a big case against a celebrity.

"That wasn't what happened," Darnell Ferguson said. "They were putting pieces together to make sure they had a case against me once they found out it was me."

In a statement Tuesday, the St. Matthews Police Department said its officers acted "professionally and with the seriousness the situation deserved. We did not embellish or manufacture any aspect of the investigations. All charges and findings were based solely on the facts and evidence presented to us."

A few months after the charges, Tatahda Ferguson released a statement saying she reacted in the "heat of the moment" and called police after an intense argument with Ferguson "that really didn't warrant their involvement."

WDRB News does not typically name alleged domestic violence victims, but, in this case, she denied she was attacked and her attorney identified her.

Tatahda Ferguson said after the hearing that she is a "very private person" and is just glad her family will no longer be in the spotlight for this incident.

Darnell Ferguson is known nationally from various TV shows, including as a host on Food Network's "SuperChef Grudge Match." He also competed on several of the network's other shows, including "Tournament of Champions."

Asked if this has hurt his career, Ferguson said it has, but that he had "a lot of faith going forward" and became a better father and husband during the last several months.

"Turn this negative into a positive," he said. "That's more or less what people need to see."

This story may be updated.

After latest court appearance, Darnell 'SuperChef' Ferguson says charges against him are 'bogus'

Darnell 'SuperChef' Ferguson's wife says police 'twisted' her words, criminal charges against him are false

Louisville 'SuperChef' Darnell Ferguson disputes charges, says it's '100% not how it happened'