Man seen attacking judge in viral video indicted by grand jury

Warning: Viewer discretion is advised. Video shows a man attacked a Nevada district court judge during a sentencing hearing. (CLARK COUNTY COURTS)
Published: Feb. 11, 2024 at 5:39 AM EST

LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) - A Nevada man has been indicted by a grand jury after he was charged with attempted murder and eight other charges for attacking a Clark County judge during a court hearing.

Warning: The video above contains profanity that has been bleeped.

Deobra Redden was seen leaping over the judicial bench and attacking Justice Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus in a Jan. 3 video that went viral. Redden was in court for sentencing in another case at the time.

Redden was indicted by a grand jury Thursday on nine charges related to the attack on Holthus, including attempted murder of a victim 60 years of age or older, battery on a protected person and extortion by threat, KVVU reports.

Redden was out on probation when he attacked Holthus as she was about to sentence him for a 2023 charge of attempted battery with substantial bodily harm. The arrest report said during the attack, Redden pulled the judge’s hair and slapped her. He allegedly injured multiple other people, including a deputy marshal, as they tried to restrain him.

Deobra Redden appeared shackled and masked for hearing Monday morning(FOX5)

Days later, Holthus sentenced Redden to between 19 and 48 months in jail for the attempted battery charge.

Shortly after the attack, Redden’s sister and foster mother said he has schizophrenia and was not on his medication at the time.

“I just think that his actions were not premeditated. It was triggered because he seemed to have been pleading for his freedom,” said Ladonna Daniels, Redden’s sister.

Redden’s initial arraignment for the nine charges on which he was recently indicted is scheduled for Feb. 29 in Clark County District Court.