A man was sentenced to 65 years in prison on Tuesday for physically assaulting a judge during a court session in the US.
When Judge Mary Kay Holthus was ready to sentence 31-year-old Deobra Redden for a prior offense, Redden threw himself over the bench.
Redden flew in all directions and even started flailing while a marshal, court employees, and attorneys attempted to stop him, according to the footage of the January 2024 attack.
The attack reportedly left Holthus severely rattled, and a marshal needed medical attention.
Judge Susan Johnson gave Redden a jail term ranging from 26 to 65 years during a hearing held in Las Vegas on Tuesday December 10, 2024.
“I know I’m not a bad person,” he said. “I believe you all understand that I’m not evil.”
Redden’s attorney, Carl Arnold, explained that his client has struggled with severe mental illness for many years and was off his medication at the time of the incident.
“He feels deep remorse,” Arnold said on Tuesday.
“When he saw the full video for the first time, his reaction was strong; it almost made him feel like he wanted to vomit.”
“He called himself a monster, saying, ‘That’s me? I did that? I never intended to hurt that woman like that.'”
Redden had earlier pleaded guilty to several charges including attempted murder, in connection to the January courtroom assault.
Judge Johnson described Redden’s actions as “an attack on the judiciary.”
“While it’s clear that you have mental health issues, doctors agreed that you understood the difference between right and wrong,” she told him.
