Las Vegas — A man who was caught on film attacking a judge in a Las Vegas courthouse has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other offenses despite his mental illness.
Deobra Delone Redden’s trial concluded Thursday when Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus testified that she feared for her life when Redden sprang over her bench and desk and landed on her. The attack occurred on January 3, as Holthus was ready to give Redden’s sentencing in a different felony attempted battery case.
Carl Arnold, Redden’s defense lawyer, said in a statement Friday that the plea “reflects a delicate balance between accepting responsibility for a regrettable incident and recognizing the impact of Mr. Redden’s untreated mental illness at the time.”
Arnold told jurors who began hearing evidence on Tuesday that Redden had not taken the recommended medicine to treat his schizophrenia.
Holthus said that she felt “defenseless” during the incident and that court officials and attorneys who rushed to her help saved her life, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Law clerk Michael Lasso told the jury that he witnessed Holthus’ head strike the floor and Redden clutch her hair.
“I thought, ‘He’s going to kill her,'” Lasso stated. He claimed he wrestled Redden away, punched him in an attempt to restrain him, and observed Redden strike a prison officer, who also intervened.
Court officials and witnesses report that an armed courtroom marshal sustained a bleeding gash on his forehead and a dislocated shoulder. Holthus was not hospitalized and returned to work after recovering from her injuries. She served as a prosecutor for over 27 years before being elected to the state court bench in 2018.
Redden, 31, is already in prison for multiple felony violence charges. Prosecutor John Giordani said on Friday that he may face up to 86 years in prison for pleading guilty to eight offenses, including battery of a protected person aged 60 or older resulting in significant bodily harm, threatening a public officer, and abuse by a prisoner.
According to the Review-Journal, Clark County District Court Judge Susan Johnson decided that Redden was competent to enter his plea. Sentencing was planned for November 7.
According to Arnold’s statement, he will request that Johnson order mental health care for his client while incarcerated.
Giordani claimed that following the attack, Redden told three correctional staff members that he attempted to kill Holthus.
“While he has past mental issues, he made a choice that day and failed to control his homicidal impulses,” according to the prosecutor.
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