Defendant who attacked Las Vegas judge sentenced to four years for initial felony

A man who "supermanned" over a courtroom bench and attacked a Las Vegas judge as she was sentencing him was just sentenced Monday to four years in prison for his original felony conviction.

Deobra Delone Redden was present in court in shackles with a mask over his face and orange mitts on his hands while surrounded by jail officers, according to the Associated Press.

Redden, who appeared in Clark County District Court on Jan. 3 for sentencing on an attempted battery charge, was captured on court video running towards Judge Mary Kay Holthus, flinging himself over the bench, pulling her to the floor by her hair.

Footage shows at least three other people in the courtroom work to pull the 30-year-old defendant off the stunned judge. One, a court clerk, is seen repeatedly punching a combative Redden.

In this image from video provided by the Clark County District Court, defendant Deobra Redden in a white long-sleeved shirt is seen standing next to his defense attorney at his sentencing in a felony battery case, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 in Las Vegas. The image shows the defendant before he launched over Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus' desk, starting a fight with courtroom officers and staff, according to the video and court officials.

The judge suffered minor injuries, a clerk suffered a cuts to his hand, and a courtroom deputy suffered a gash to his head and a dislocated shoulder and had to be hospitalized, AP reported. The judge returned to work the day after the attack.

The attack took place while Redden was being sentenced on one count of attempted battery causing substantial bodily harm.

During the hearing, Redden, who has previously served prison time for violent offenses, told the judge he was "trying" to do better. She immediately responded "I appreciate that, but I think it's time that you get a taste of something else because I just can't with (your) history."

The court’s chief judge, Jerry Wiese, said Redden then "supermanned over the judicial bench” to get to the judge, the AP reported.

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Sentencing in initial case reset

During Monday morning's appearance, the judge is expected to continue sentencing in Redden’s initial battery case.

Court records show he was initially charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon in connection to a baseball bat attack. In November, Redden pleaded guilty to a reduced battery charged and was released from custody under a deal between prosecutors and his defense attorney.

In this image from video provided by the Clark County District Court, Judge Mary Kay Holthus is seen cradling her head after a defendant launched over her desk during his sentencing in a felony battery case, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 in Las Vegas. Authorities say the judge suffered minor injuries n the attack while a courtroom marshal suffered a bleeding gash on his forehead and a dislocated shoulder.

Nevada Department of Corrections records show that in 2021, Redden also served prison time following a third-offense domestic battery conviction.

Redden, who was free on bond at the time of the attack on the judge, was taken to jail but refused to return to court the next day on more than a dozen new charges in connection to the attack, the AP reported.

Captured on video: Man who attacked Las Vegas judge in shocking video faces 13 new charges

The 13 new charges

Clark County records also show Redden is also set to reappear in court Tuesday to face 13 new charges stemming from the attack including coercion with force, intimidation of a public officer, extortion, and multiple counts of battery on a protected person.

Holthus was elected in 2018 after working for the district attorney’s office for more than 27 years, including 16 years as a prosecutor on the special victims' unit, according to the District Court’s website.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vegas judge attack: Defendant sentenced to four years for initial case