KINGMAN – A judge in Kingman has denied, at least preliminarily, two defense motions filed on behalf of a Lake Havasu City man charged with aggravated assault and child abuse involving his infant son. The January 23 rulings by Mohave County Superior Court judge Derek Carlisle involve the prosecution of Anthony Eldridge, 30.
Lake Havasu police found Eldridge’s 16-month-old son to be unresponsive after responding to a report of a baby not breathing call at a residence in the 2700 block of Daytona Avenue on May 3, 2024. The boy was transported to Havasu Regional Medical Center and flown for further care at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas.
Medical officials reportedly concluded that he suffered brain damage in a possible “shaken baby case.” Deputy county attorney Amanda Claerhout said Thursday that she does not have specifics on the baby’s current condition, but that “he will need care the rest of his life.”
Judge Carlisle denied without prejudice Public Defender Bob Heieck’s motion to dismiss the case. He said Claerhout’s failure to respond to Heieck’s motion in timely fashion, in and of itself, did not constitute grounds for case dismissal.
Carlisle said Heieck could resubmit the motion, but noted that he’ll need to hear some expert testimony or evidence providing sufficient scientific or medical cause for dismissal.
Heieck informed the Court that he has not yet secured medical experts to assist with Eldridge’s defense, but is working to do so. Judge Carlisle is providing more time for that to happen before the next hearing scheduled March 20 and 21.
Heieck’s motion to compel disclosure of additional medical records was also dismissed without prejudice, allowing him opportunity to resubmit the request once he has an expert on board to advance and enhance Eldridge’s defense.
Claerhout said she doesn’t possess the records Heieck is requesting from Sunrise Medical Center or a family practitioner office in Lake Havasu. He wants to see more information as he explores whether the infant, who was born premature along with a surviving twin, may have had some pre-existing medical condition or issue that explains his traumatic brain injury.
“There are some underlying issues here,” the public defender said.
Carlisle said securing a defense expert would possibly help Heieck provide a better nexus for a Court ruling that additional medical records should be disclosed. He explained he is not a doctor and would require an expert to better substantiate why a review of more records is necessary.
As he did in his motion for case dismissal, Heieck told Judge Carlisle he is also exploring the possibility that a party other than Eldridge might be responsible if the injuries were inflicted by a person.
“Perhaps there should be additional charges filed in the case against somebody else,” Heieck said.
Eldridge was remanded to he custody of the Sheriff’s Office and is held on $60,000 bond at the Adult Detention Center.
Dave Hawkins
Defense motions rejected in severe child abuse case
