Man who attacked Nevada judge in court pleads guilty but is mentally ill

LAS-VEGAS– A man whose attack on a judge in a Las Vegas courtroom was captured on video has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other charges, but is mentally ill.

The trial of Deobra Delone Redden ended Thursday after Clark County District Judge Mary Kay Holthus testified that she feared for her life when Redden jumped over her bench and desk and landed on top of her. The attack occurred Jan. 3 as Holthus was about to announce Redden's sentence in another attempted assault case.

Holthus told jurors she felt “defenseless” and that the court officials and lawyers who came to her aid saved her life, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

Law clerk Michael Lasso told the jury he saw Holthus' head hit the floor and Redden grab her by the hair.

“I really thought, 'He's going to kill her,'” Lasso testified. He said he fought Redden away, punched him to subdue him and saw Redden hit a correctional officer who also intervened.

An armed bailiff suffered a bleeding cut to his forehead and a dislocated shoulder, according to court officials and witnesses. Holthus was not hospitalized and returned to work after receiving treatment for her injuries. She has been a prosecutor for more than 27 years and was elected to the state court in 2018.

Redden's defense attorney, Carl Arnold, told jurors who began hearing evidence Tuesday that Redden has not taken any prescribed medication to treat his diagnosed schizophrenia. Redden's confession may have implications for his psychiatric treatment behind bars.

Redden, 31, is already in prison for other serious assault offenses. District Attorney John Giordani said Friday he faces up to 86 years in prison for his guilty pleas to eight serious counts, including assault on a protected person age 60 or older causing substantial bodily harm, intimidation of a public official and assault by a prisoner.

Judge Susan Johnson of Clark County District Court ruled that Redden was sane and capable of giving his confession, the Review-Journal reported. Sentencing was scheduled for Nov. 7.

Giordani said Redden told three correctional staff members after the attack that he tried to kill Holthus.

“Although he clearly had mental health problems in the past, he made a decision that day and failed to control his murderous thoughts,” the prosecutor said.