'Terrified' judge breaks silence after vicious courtroom attack which went viral
A "terrified" judge who went viral after being violently attacked by a convicted criminal in a courtroom has admitted she "would not be here" without her staff.
Judge Mary Kay Holthus was about to deliver 30-year-old Deobra Redden a sentence in an attempted battery case on January 3 when he leaped over a judicial bench and attacked her.
Courtroom cameras recorded as Holthus’ clerk and a court marshal fought with Redden to restrain him in the wild video that was widely viewed on the internet and social media posts. A week later Judge Holthus sentenced him to up to four years in prison for the battery charge he had pleaded guilty to in November.
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The judge was violently attacked (Clark County District Court)Redden is now facing an attempted murder charge after he attacked Holthus “by grabbing her, pulling her hair, placing his hands around her throat and/or hitting her on the head by manner and means unknown.” He’s also accused of “punching and/or kicking and/or pushing” a Las Vegas police officer.
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Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus was the first witness called at Deobra Redden’s grand jury trial for attempted murder following his courtroom attack on the 62-year-old.
Holthus recalled Redden telling her about “all the great things that he’s been doing” and his plans to get a job and become a “changed person,” while noting the defendant was “super calm,” according to her testimony transcript.
Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthu admits she was 'terrified' (Clark County District Court)She noted that he had been through Mental Health Court twice and came out of it but still came “back to the same place.” She said she then began to explain to him that he was going to prison.
The judge recalled the scary incident to Fox7: “The next thing I know, he literally jumped that defense table and flew before I could even, and just slammed me into the wall. I don’t know what hit me where.”
Holthus said that the attack came at her “incredibly fast” and she was not expecting it. She said her head slammed into a marble wall behind the bench and that a head injury is still “lumpy and bruised” today. She also said that Redden also grabbed her by the hair and “threw her down backwards.”
Judge Mary Kay Holthus has thanked her staff
Deobra Redden faces an attempted murder charge (Nevada Department of Corrections)“If they hadn’t been there, I would not be here,” the judge stated. “I was no match. He was absolutely taking me out.” She added that Redden was “very strong” and that he “bunny hopped the defendant’s table like it was nothing.”
Redden’s foster mother, Karen Springer; and older sister, LaDonna Daniels, told reporters outside court last month that Redden has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, though court records show he was found competent to stand trial.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said at the time that Redden’s adult criminal history included convictions for three felonies and nine misdemeanors, mostly involving violent acts.
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