Nationwide — Deobra Redden, a 31-year-old African American man from Las Vegas, Nevada, has been sentenced to 26 to 65 years in prison for attacking a judge. The incident, which was caught on a now-viral video, happened when Redden jumped over the judge’s bench during a sentencing hearing.The attack, which occurred on January 3, happened while Redden was being sentenced for an earlier case involving attempted battery, according to 8 News Now. Video footage showed Redden jumping over the four-foot-high desk and lunging at Judge Mary Kay Holthus, who was 62 years old at that time. Courtroom staff subdued him after a struggle.
Redden was charged with attempted murder, for which he pleaded guilty but mentally ill. His lawyer argued for a concurrent sentence with his existing prison term, but Judge Susan Johnson rejected the request, emphasizing the seriousness of the attack.
“It was not just retaliation or an attack on Judge Holthus. It was also an attack on the judiciary,” Judge Johnson stated, citing evaluations showing Redden knew “right and wrong.”
Before the sentencing, Redden told the court, “I’m not a bad person, I’m not an evil guy. 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, I know I cared about her wellbeing.”
Holthus, who declined to speak, said in a statement the prosecutors read, “He made a conscious decision to kill me and made every effort to succeed. If he had his way, he’d be facing a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for murder.”
Moreover, Redden’s attorney said his client, diagnosed with schizophrenia, was not taking prescribed medication during the attack.
With time served, Redden could be eligible for parole in the 2050s.