A three-time felon dove over a Las Vegas judge’s bench in court and began pummeling her on Wednesday after she refused to sentence him to probation following his guilty plea on an attempted battery with substantial bodily harm charge.
At about 11 a.m., Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus heard 30-year-old Deobra Redden’s attorney’s request for probabtion, KLAS reported.
“I appreciate that, but I think it’s time he get a taste of something else,” she said before beginning the recitation of the sentence.
WARNING: Graphic language
Suddenly, Redden rushed the bench and jumped over the desk and began beating the judge, knocking her down below the level of the desk. Court officials quickly responded and fought with Redden before gaining control of him, although he was seen punching a marshal repeatedly while a woman’s voice shouted for him to stop.
“Thank God the judge is okay,” Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said in a statement. “Thank God for the heroic efforts of those who came to her aid, especially her marshal and her law clerk. Without them, the situation would have been much worse as this defendant exhibited extremely violent behavior and I’m confident there will be consequences.”
Sources said Holthus hit her head but was deemed OK, while the marshal was injured and transported to the hospital, KNTV reported.
KLAS said that Redden was charged in April with threatening “to bust the kneecaps” of another man, “resulting in substantial bodily harm,” according to court documents. But a judge ordered him to undergo a competency examination in May and was subsequently committed to a state mental health facility for treatment.
He was found competent to stand trial in October and pleaded guilty in November. He missed a court appearance in December, however, and Holthus issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Redden had previously appeared before Holthus on charges of malicious destruction of property, and records show he served prison time in 2021 on a domestic battery charge.
It’s not clear when he will appear in court again or what charges he will face for the attack on the judge and her marshal.
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[Featured image: KSNV screenshot]
