A Nevada man who vaulted over a judge’s bench and attacked her in a Las Vegas courtroom has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term. Deobra Redden, 31, was sentenced on Tuesday to serve between 26 and 65 years in state prison for his assault on Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus.
The Violent Courtroom Incident
The attack occurred on January 3 as Judge Holthus was preparing to sentence Redden in a felony battery case. Courtroom video captured the shocking moment Redden leapt over the 4-foot-high bench and lunged at the judge. The footage showed the 62-year-old judge falling back against a wall as Redden grabbed her hair, knocking over an American flag in the process.
Judge Holthus suffered minor injuries but did not require hospitalization, courthouse officials said. She later testified during Redden’s trial that she feared for her life during the attack.
Guilty Plea and Mental Health Considerations
In September, Redden pleaded guilty but mentally ill to charges including attempted murder. His plea brought his trial to an abrupt end.
Redden’s defense attorney, Carl Arnold, attributed the violent outburst to his client’s untreated schizophrenia. Arnold argued that Redden had not been taking his prescribed medication at the time of the attack.
“The plea reflects a delicate balance between accepting responsibility for a regrettable incident and recognizing the impact of Mr. Redden’s untreated mental illness at the time,” Arnold said during the plea hearing.
Courtroom Remarks and Sentencing
During his sentencing hearing, Redden expressed remorse but denied intending to harm Judge Holthus.
“I’m not making excuses for my actions, but I’m saying I’m not a bad person, and I know that I did not intend to kill Mary Kay Holthus,” he said.
Judge Holthus, who did not speak during the sentencing, previously described the attack as terrifying.
Redden’s sentence allows for parole eligibility after 2050, KLAS-TV reported.
