Man Sentenced To 65 Years In Prison After Attacking Judge

 

A 31-year-old man, Deobra Redden, has been handed a prison sentence of between 26 and 65 years by a Nevada court for attacking a judge in Las Vegas.

The sentencing, which took place on Tuesday, followed his guilty plea in September to charges of attempted murder and other related offences.

The violent incident occurred on January 3 during a court hearing where Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus was preparing to sentence Redden in a separate felony battery case.

In a dramatic turn of events, Redden leapt over the judge’s 4-foot-high bench, grabbed her hair, and knocked over an American flag during the attack.

Video footage from the courtroom captured the moment the 62-year-old judge was thrown against a wall. While she sustained minor injuries, courthouse officials confirmed that she did not require hospitalisation.

READ ALSO: Trump Mocks Trudeau, Calls Him ‘Governor Of The Great State Of Canada’

During the trial, Judge Holthus testified, stating she feared for her life as the attack unfolded. “I thought he was going to kill me,” the judge recounted.

Redden’s defence lawyer, Carl Arnold, attributed his client’s actions to untreated schizophrenia. He explained that Redden had not been taking his prescribed medication at the time of the incident, describing the plea agreement as a balance between accountability and recognition of his mental health challenges.

Speaking during his sentencing, Redden expressed regret but maintained that he never intended to kill the judge. “I’m not making excuses for my actions, but I’m not a bad person. I know I didn’t intend to kill Mary Kay Holthus,” he said.

The sentencing ensures that Redden will not be eligible for parole until at least 2050, as confirmed by court records obtained by KLAS-TV.