A Nevada man, Deobra Redden, whose violent attack on a Clark County judge went viral earlier this year, has pleaded guilty but mentally ill to attempted murder and several other charges. The dramatic courtroom incident, captured on video, showed Redden leaping over the bench to assault Judge Mary Kay Holthus during a hearing in January, leaving the courtroom in chaos.
The 31-year-old initially pleaded guilty to six charges, including battery and intimidating a public officer, but later changed his plea to guilty but mentally ill, acknowledging his struggle with untreated schizophrenia at the time of the attack. Redden could face up to 86 years in prison.
The shocking footage of the January 3 incident shows Redden vaulting over the judge’s bench after being denied bond, grabbing the judge by her hair, and knocking her to the ground. The attack left Holthus stunned, her clerk Michael Lasso and courtroom officials rushing to her aid. Lasso and a marshal suffered injuries while subduing Redden, including a dislocated shoulder and cuts. Holthus, shaken but resilient, returned to work the following day after treatment for minor injuries.
In emotional testimony, Judge Holthus recounted the terrifying moment she believed she might not make it out of the courtroom alive. “He was so determined and violent… I didn’t think I was going to get out of there,” she said.
Redden’s plea deal acknowledges his mental health issues, which could influence where he serves his sentence and what treatment he receives. His defense argued that he had not been taking medication for schizophrenia, which contributed to the outburst. Prosecutors, however, emphasized that Redden made a deliberate choice to attack the judge, with Redden even telling correctional officers afterward that he had intended to kill her.
Redden’s criminal history is marked by a string of violent offenses, including prior convictions for felonies and misdemeanors. He will return to court on November 7, where he will face sentencing for the attack.
This shocking case highlights the dangers faced by public officials in the courtroom and the critical need for addressing mental health in the justice system.
