Woman accused of witness tampering pleads not guilty
TEXARKANA, Texas — A woman accused of pressuring an elderly woman to drop a claim of theft against her pleaded not guilty Monday to witness tampering in Bowie County. Gwendolyn Ruth Block, 58, appeared before 5th District Judge Bill Miller with Assistant Public Defender Sylvia Delgado for arraignment on a charge of witness tampering and for a pretrial hearing on a charge of credit/debit card abuse involving an elderly person.
Delgado entered a plea of not guilty on Block’s behalf to the witness tampering charge. Miller scheduled the theft case for jury selection in April though he said there are several other cases in line to be tried ahead of her. A final pretrial hearing is scheduled for April 19.
Block was indicted in April last year for debit-card abuse involving a 76-yearold woman for whom she provided care-taking services, according to a probable cause affidavit. A second indictment charging Block with witness tampering was handed down last month.
Block allegedly used the woman’s debit card to make cash withdrawals and a report was made regarding the alleged theft to Nash, Texas, police in October 2019.
Block was free on bond when she allegedly paid a visit Sept. 24 to the alleged victim of the debit-card theft.
“When (the alleged victim) opened the door, Block pushed the door open hard and entered the residence without permission,” the affidavit states.
Block allegedly told the woman she had “this paper” from the Bowie County District Attorney’s Office in her truck, and she needed to sign it. Block allegedly told the woman she needed to sign the paper so that Block would avoid a possible sentence of seven years in prison.
The elderly woman allegedly told Block she would sign the paper so that Block would go outside. When Block walked out the elderly woman closed the door, locked it and called family members to her aid.
Block also allegedly began harassing the elderly woman over the phone. Block was arrested on a charge of witness tampering Oct. 23.
Court records show she was released the same day on a $20,000 personal recognizance bond.
Both charges facing Block are punishable by two to 10 years in prison in the event of a conviction.