According to his defense lawyer, a man who assaulted a judge in Las Vegas earlier this year by jumping over the bench and knocking her into a wall has been sentenced to up to 65 years in prison.
A physical altercation broke out between Deobra Redden, 31, and court officials on January 3 while he was in Clark County District Court to be sentenced on an attempted battery charge. Redden then leaped toward Judge Mary Kay Holthus.
Court cameras filmed the stunning event.
His lawyer, Carl Arnold, said on Wednesday that he had been sentenced to 26 to 65 years in prison for the courtroom attack on Tuesday.
According to Arnold, Redden said throughout the court that he was not a bad person and that he did not recall much of the day he attacked the judge.
During Redden’s trial, the judge testified that she was terrified for her life as he jumped over her desk and bench and fell on her.
Despite receiving medical care, she returned to court the following day. Her law clerk suffered abrasions in the attack, while Holthus Marshal was treated for a head injury.
According to a record from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Redden informed prison officers after the incident that he had a horrible day and attempted to kill the judge.
Arnold said Redden entered a guilty but mentally ill plea to five other charges related to the attack, including attempted murder.
In a statement following the plea, Arnold said that his client’s interaction with the prosecution represents a careful balancing act between acknowledging the impact of Mr. Redden’s untreated mental illness at the time and taking responsibility for a terrible incident.
Redden had not taken his prescribed medication to manage his diagnosed schizophrenia, Arnold informed the jurors.
Redden was incarcerated for prior felony battery offenses when he entered a guilty plea. His trial ended when he entered a guilty plea.
Redden also entered a guilty plea to charges of harassing a public official, battery by a prisoner, and battery of a protected person 60 years of age or older that resulted in significant bodily harm.
Court footage revealed that Redden told the judge he was working and in a better place in his mind just before the January attack, according to NBC News affiliate KSNV of Las Vegas.
“I don’t think I should go to prison, but if it’s right for you, then you have to do what you have to do,” he added.
The court informed Redden that due to his offense and prior convictions, she would send him to prison. As the judge started to give the punishment, Redden struck her.
Redden was later given a prison sentence of up to four years by Holthus for attacking someone with a baseball bat last year.
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