A La Plata woman has been charged with bribery of a witness after investigators alleged she offered incentives to a juvenile witness in a pending prosecution, according to San Juan County court records and an arrest affidavit.

Amber Nichol Eldridge, 45, is charged with one count of bribery of a witness involving false testimony, a third-degree felony. All charges are allegations based on court records, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

According to court records, the investigation stems from an ongoing criminal prosecution involving Eldridge’s husband, who had previously been charged in a separate criminal sexual contact of a minor case in which the juvenile is identified in court records as the alleged victim and a witness.

The arrest affidavit alleges Eldridge knew her husband’s conditions of release prohibited him from having contact with any witnesses in the pending case.

Detectives wrote a victim advocate informed them the juvenile witness had expressed concerns about Eldridge’s behavior while the criminal case was pending. Investigators allege they later interviewed the juvenile, who reported Eldridge allowed her husband to return to the family property despite his court-ordered conditions of release.

According to the arrest affidavit, Eldridge acknowledged during an interview that she was aware of her husband’s release conditions and that he had been living in a camper on the property for about a month. Court records state Eldridge said efforts were made to keep the two separated while they were both on the property.

Investigators also allege the juvenile reported Eldridge became verbally aggressive after the juvenile was served with a subpoena related to the criminal case. According to the arrest affidavit, the juvenile said she believed Eldridge was about to strike her during one confrontation. During a later interview, Eldridge acknowledged she had been upset but denied touching the juvenile, according to court records.

Detectives further allege the juvenile witness reported Eldridge repeatedly attempted to persuade her to discontinue the criminal case. According to the arrest affidavit, the juvenile alleged Eldridge offered permission to get a tattoo if she spoke with her husband and would sign paperwork allowing her to become emancipated if she dropped the criminal case.

Investigators also allege the juvenile reported Eldridge encouraged her to communicate with her husband despite the pending prosecution. Eldridge denied encouraging contact that would violate his release conditions, according to court records.

According to the criminal complaint, investigators allege Eldridge offered permission for a tattoo and emancipation as things of value intended to induce the witness to testify falsely or refrain from testifying.

Charges Filed

• Bribery of a Witness (Bribes) (False Testimony), a third-degree felony

Case Status

The criminal complaint was filed July 23, 2026, in Aztec Magistrate Court. Court records reviewed by San Juan Pulse did not indicate whether Eldridge had retained legal counsel. Court records also did not indicate whether she had entered a plea.

Source

According to a criminal complaint and affidavit for arrest warrant filed in Aztec Magistrate Court.

Legal Disclaimer

All charges are allegations based on court records, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.