What Led to the Shocking Assault on a Nevada Judge? Nevada Judge Attacked in Alarming Incident

A Nevada judge became the victim of an attack by a defendant during a sentencing hearing. The violent episode occurred on 3rd Jan, during a felony battery case, where the defendant leaped over a defense table and the judge’s bench, initiating a chaotic and bloody brawl that involved court officials, attorneys, and law enforcement.

The assailant, identified as Deobra Delone Redden, aged 30, was involved in a courtroom melee captured on video. The footage shows the defendant launching himself over the judge’s bench, resulting in Clark County District Judge Mary Kay Holthus falling back from her seat against a wall. While Judge Holthus sustained injuries, including some visible bloodshed, she did not require hospitalization.

A courtroom marshal, who came to the judge’s aid during the attack, suffered injuries and was subsequently hospitalized. His injuries included a bleeding gash on his forehead and a dislocated shoulder, according to reports from courthouse officials and witnesses.

The incident occurred at approximately 11 a.m. at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, creating a chaotic and alarming scene within the courtroom. Redden, after his audacious leap over the judge’s bench, was subdued and wrestled to the floor by several court and jail officers, along with courtroom staff members. The video footage even captures some individuals participating in the altercation, throwing punches to restrain the defendant.

Following the assault, Redden was arrested and taken into custody at the Clark County Detention Center. Records indicate that he now faces multiple new felony charges, including battery on a protected person, referring to the judge and court officers involved in the altercation.

Courtroom witnesses expressed their shock at the rapid escalation of events. Richard Scow, the chief county district attorney who had prosecuted Redden in a case stemming from a previous arrest on charges of attacking someone with a baseball bat, described the incident as happening so fast that it was hard to know what to do.

Redden’s defense attorney, Caesar Almase, did not provide comments despite later attempts through telephone and email messages.

During the court hearing, Redden, not in custody at the time, pleaded for leniency while describing himself as a person who consistently tries to do the right thing. As the judge indicated her intention to impose imprisonment and the court marshal moved to handcuff Redden, the defendant erupted, yelling expletives and charging forward amidst screams from the courtroom audience.

Records reveal that Redden, a Las Vegas resident, had previously served prison time in Nevada for a domestic battery conviction. He was found mentally competent to stand trial before pleading guilty in November to a reduced charge of attempted battery causing substantial bodily harm.

Judge Mary Kay Holthus, a seasoned prosecutor with over 27 years of courthouse experience, was elected to the state court bench in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. In response to the incident, court spokesperson Mary Ann Price stated that officials were reviewing all protocols to ensure the safety of the judiciary, the public, and courthouse employees.

As the investigation into this shocking courtroom attack continues, the incident raises questions about courthouse security and the safety of legal proceedings. The repercussions of this incident are likely to prompt a closer examination of security measures in courtrooms to prevent such incidents in the future.