KINGMAN – A Lake Havasu City man charged with harming his infant son will be going to prison under terms of a plea agreement entered Monday in Kingman. Anthony Eldridge, 31, pleaded guilty to child abuse.
An aggravated assault charge is dismissed in the deal that exposes Eldridge to at least two years in prison, but no more than five.
Lake Havasu City 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 before he was flown for further care at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas.
Though the baby survived, Deputy Mohave County Attorney Amanda Claerhout said during previous hearings that he shall require care for the rest of his life. She said medical experts concluded that he suffered brain damage in the possible “shaken baby” case.
Answering inquiry by the court, Claerhout said that the victim’s injuries are consistent with being subjected to rapid acceleration and deceleration. She said one or more witnesses would testify about Eldridge forcibly dropping his son, resulting in brain hemorrhaging and seizures.
“He is doing better now, but was hospitalized for an extended period of time,” Claerhout said.
Defense attorney Bob Heieck said he would submit argument regarding punishment prior to the July 9 sentencing hearing.
