A defendant who was previously seen attacking a judge by leaping over her bench, is set to face her once again in Las Vegas today. Deobra Redden, 30, had appeared before Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus on January 3, pleading for leniency in a felony battery case stemming from a baseball bat attack last year.
Despite Redden’s efforts to convince the judge of his reformation, the courtroom took a violent turn when it became apparent that a prison sentence awaited him. In a dramatic outburst, Redden unleashed a barrage of expletives, charging towards Holthus. The ensuing chaos saw him vaulting over a defense table, leaping over the judge’s bench, and landing on Holthus, causing both her and an American flag to topple.
Described as “supermanning over the judicial bench” by Chief Judge Jerry Wiese, Redden, grabbing the judge’s hair, had to be forcibly removed by her clerk and several court and jail officers. The ensuing struggle resulted in injuries, with Holthus suffering some harm, but returning to work the next day.
A man attacked a Clark County judge in court today after she denied his probation. pic.twitter.com/CTL5VgPZFU
— Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) January 3, 2024
Redden, initially held on $54,000 bail for the attack, refused to appear in court the following day, leading to a rescheduled hearing. Additional charges, including extortion, coercion with force, and battery on a protected person, were subsequently filed against him.
As the Monday hearing approaches, Holthus is set to continue sentencing in Redden’s other case involving the baseball bat attack. Despite Redden’s claims of reform, District Attorney Steve Wolfson highlighted his extensive criminal history, dominated by violent offenses, including three felonies and nine misdemeanors.
The 30-year-old defendant had been released from custody while awaiting sentencing, explaining why he was not shackled or wearing jail attire during the courtroom assault. The incident has raised concerns about courtroom security and the safety of judicial proceedings, prompting a closer look at measures to prevent such shocking episodes in the future.
