A Las Vegas man who was caught on video jumping over a courtroom bench and desk and attacking a judge was sentenced Tuesday to at least 26 years in prison.
Deobra Redden, 31, was ordered to serve 26 to 65 years in a Nevada prison for the Jan. 3 attack on Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus. According to KLASTV.
Redden was indicted on charges including attempted murder in September, shortly after Holthus, 62, testified that she feared for her life when Redden jumped over a 4-foot bench and landed on top of her. He pleaded guilty but was mentally ill.
Nevada man seen attacking judge in viral video pleads guilty to attempted murder: Report
Deobra Redden is seen jumping over Judge Mary Kay Holthus' desk during sentencing in a felony assault case Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP)
The attack occurred as Holthus was preparing to sentence Redden in a separate felony assault case.
The incident was captured on court video, which shows Holthus falling from his chair against a wall as Mr. Holthus jumps over a bench, grabs them by the hair, and slams the American flag at them. Holthus was injured but was not hospitalized.
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A man was caught on video attacking a Las Vegas judge in January as Judge Susan Johnson instructs his lawyers before Redden's trial Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas. Defendant Deobra Redden appears in court. (AP)
Defense attorney Karl Arnold said Redden was not taking prescribed medication to control his diagnosed schizophrenia at the time of the attack.
Mr. Arnold said that Mr. Redden's guilty plea in September “took a fine line between accepting responsibility for the unfortunate incident and recognizing the effects of Mr. Redden's then-untreated mental illness.'' “It reflects balance.”
Redden said in court Tuesday that he did not intend to kill Holthus, according to KLAS-TV.
District Judge Mary Kay Holthus becomes emotional as she testifies against Deobra Redden during Redden's trial Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas. (AP)
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“I'm not excusing my actions, but I'm saying I know I'm not a bad person and I never intended to kill Mary Kay Holthus,” he said in court.
Redden will be eligible for parole after 2050.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
