Felon who attacked Las Vegas judge sentenced to decades

12/12/2024 6:09

A Nevada man who vaulted over a

judge's bench in a Las Vegas courtroom to attack her in January

has been sentenced to decades in prison, according to court

records.



Deobra Redden, 31, was sentenced on Tuesday to between 26

and 65 years in prison over the attack on Judge Mary Kay

Holthus, of Clark County District Court. Holthus, 62 at the

time, sustained injuries but was able to return to work.



Citing mental illness, Redden pleaded guilty in September to

attempted murder and other charges. He said in court on Tuesday

he did not intend to kill Holthus, according to KLAS-TV.



The sentence was handed down by Judge Susan Johnson of the

Eighth Judicial District Court for Clark County. Johnson said

the man's actions amounted to "an attack on the judiciary."



The violence in January unfolded in chaotic scenes captured

on courtroom video.



Footage showed Redden jumping head first over the judge's

bench as she attempted to scramble out of the way. Two men and a

uniformed court officer tackled and punched Redden, as he yelled

expletives and hurled punches before being dragged away.



Holthus looked stunned as she emerged from behind the bench.



The attack happened as the judge was about to sentence

Redden in January to a 2023 battery charge to which he had

pleaded guilty. He was later sentenced to 19 to 48 months over

that charge.



Redden also served prison time after he was found guilty of

attempted theft in 2019 and then in 2021 for domestic battery,

online court records showed.