MAN WHO ATTACKED JUDGE IN COURT SENTENCED TO 26 YEARS IMPRISONMENT

In a widely shared video, the man who jumped over a court bench at a judge during his trial was given a 26-year prison sentence. Judge Mary Kay Holthus of the Las Vegas District Court was sentencing 31-year-old Deobra Redden in another case on January 3rd when he viciously attacked her. The violent incident, in which Redden threw himself over the desk and the 62-year-old was pushed off her chair, occurred just as Holthus was about to deliver Redden's sentence for a felony battery charge.

According to NBC News, the defendant was seen in the video jumping on top of her and pushing her against a wall while security tried to defuse the situation, which resulted in three injuries. Fortunately, Holthus was not admitted to the hospital; however, she did sustain some injuries, for which she was treated. According to NBC News, she returned to court on January 4.

"Thank God the judge is okay," said Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson at the time. God be praised for the valiant actions of those who rescued her, particularly her law clerk and marshal. "The situation would have been much worse without them because this defendant acted in a very violent manner, and I'm sure there will be repercussions."

Redden's attorneys asked District Court Judge Susan Johnson on Tuesday, December 10, for a sentence that would complement the prison term he was already serving. Carl Arnold, Redden's lawyer, requested that the sentence be between four and eleven years; however, Judge Johnson chose to sentence the defendant to a total of 26 to 65 years in prison. Johnson claimed that it wasn't merely an attack on Judge Holthus or retaliation. "The judiciary was also attacked."

Before she sentenced him, Redden assured Johnson, "I'm not a bad person, I'm not an evil guy."

"I'm not trying to justify my behavior, but I'm stating that I'm not a bad person and that I cared about Mary Kay Holthus's well-being and that I didn't intend to kill her." The statement said, "He deliberately chose to kill me and did everything in his power to do so." "He would be facing a life sentence without the possibility of parole for murder if he had his way."

Law clerk Michael Lasso assisted in removing Redden from the judge's seat, recalling the incident from the beginning of the year. "I don't know how big or strong he is, but I know he's definitely a bigger guy," he told ABC. I know I wouldn't be able to clear the bench, which is one of the reasons it was so amazing that he did. "I assumed he was heading for the door when he first leapt over that desk. I was just shocked and reacted when he started charging the judge instead of heading for the door.

"I don't even want to consider what might have occurred in my absence. The judge immediately went beneath the desks in an apparent attempt to defend herself after we were able to remove the defendant."