Man who assaulted Nevada judge in court pleads guilty but mentally ill

In Las Vegas, a man who physically attacked a judge inside a courtroom has pleaded guilty but mentally ill to charges of attempted murder and other offenses. Deobra Delone Redden halted his trial after Judge Mary Kay Holthus testified that she was genuinely afraid for her life during the incident, which occurred when Redden leaped over the judge’s bench and desk, landing on her. The attack took place on Jan. 3 as Holthus was preparing to announce Redden’s sentence in a previous case of felony attempted battery. Witnesses described the event as alarming, with Holthus stating that she felt defenseless during the assault and crediting court officials and attorneys for intervening and potentially saving her life.

Michael Lasso, a law clerk present at the scene, shared his account with the jury, mentioning seeing Redden grabbing Holthus’ hair and causing her head to hit the floor. Lasso expressed concerns that Redden might inflict serious harm, prompting him to physically engage with Redden and seek help from other individuals in the courtroom.

Redden’s defense attorney revealed to the jury that Redden had not been adhering to prescribed medication for his diagnosed schizophrenia. This disclosure sheds light on Redden’s state of mind during the incident and raises questions about his mental health treatment while in custody. Currently serving a prison sentence for previous felony battery offenses, Redden faces a maximum potential sentence of 86 years for his recent guilty pleas to multiple felonies, including battery of an elderly protected person resulting in substantial bodily harm, intimidating a public officer, and battery by a prisoner.

A ruling by Clark County District Court Judge Susan Johnson confirmed Redden’s competency to enter his plea, as reported by the Review-Journal. The sentencing for these crimes has been scheduled for Nov. 7, with prosecutor John Giordani revealing that Redden admitted his intention to kill Holthus to correctional staff members following the attack. While acknowledging Redden’s history of mental health struggles, Giordani emphasized that Redden’s actions on that day were driven by a choice to act on his violent impulses without restraint.