Man Who Attacked Judge In Las Vegas Courtroom Sentenced To Serve Up To 65 Years In Prison

T

Deobra Redden, the man who attacked 62-year-old Las Vegas District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus back in January, has been sentenced to serve between 26 to 65 years in prison, as reported by KLAS-TV in Las Vegas.

District Court Judge Susan Johnson sentenced Redden on Tuesday (Dec. 10), describing the attack as an assault on the entire judiciary.

The viral, initial incident of Redden, 31, catapulting himself over Judge Holthus’ bench was captured on video and occurred while he was being sentenced in a separate felony battery case. Per courthouse officials, she fell back as Redden flung himself over the bench and grabbed her hair. She did suffer minor injuries, but wasn’t hospitalized.

When being sentenced on Tuesday, Redden stated, “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.”

He pled guilty, but mentally ill, in September to attempted murder and other charges, ending the trial after Holthus testified that she feared for her life during the altercation.

Redden’s defense attorney, Carl Arnold, said the plea “reflects a delicate balance between accepting responsibility for a regrettable incident and recognizing the impact of Mr. Redden’s untreated mental illness at the time.” Arnold told jurors that Redden wasn’t taking prescribed medication to manage his diagnosed schizophrenia at the time of the attack.

Prosecutors noted, “While he clearly has past mental issues, he made a choice that day and failed to control his homicidal impulses.”

KLAS-TV reported that Redden will be eligible for parole after 2050.