Today in Las Vegas Court: Violent Criminal Attacks The Judge As She Hands Down Her Sentence

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A man attacked a Las Vegas judge in her courtroom Wednesday, forcing her to take cover and injuring a marshal in the process, video the 8 News Now Investigators obtained reveals.

Deobra Redden, 30, a three-time felon, was in Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus’ courtroom for sentencing on a charge of attempted battery with substantial bodily harm, records said.

Around 11 a.m. Holthus was sitting behind the bench when Redden ran up to her, jumped over the bench and attacked her, video shared with the 8 News Now Investigators showed. Several other people then fought with Redden before throwing him to the ground. An alarm also sounded for several minutes alerting others to the incident.

Before you rush to judge Deobra Redden, consider the position he is in. You're sitting in court for your not first violent offense. You're staring in the face of prison time. Your parents gave you a woman's name. They tried to Boy Named Sue strategy, but it worked too well. Instead of simply toughing you up, they turned you into a violent criminal. Then when it finally comes time for your sentencing, instead of simply handing down the punishment, Mrs. I'm Gonna Teach You a Lesson on the stand gets a little smirk on her face says, "I think it's time he get a taste of something else"

Before the attack, Redden’s attorney asked Holthus to sentence his client to probation. Holthus then said, “I think it’s time he get a taste of something else.” 

That's pretty cocky of you judge. Don't you think? Considering the violent criminal you're sentencing to prison time is sitting 10 feet in front of you, and has been left completely unattended.

"We commend the heroic acts of her staff, law enforcement, and all others who subdued the defendant. The court remains committed to a safe and secure courthouse and courtrooms. We are reviewing all our protocols and will do whatever is necessary to protect the judiciary, the public, and our employees."

I gotta say, my first thought when watching this video was not that the staff, law enforcement, and all others who subdued the defendant did a commendable job. They did a job. I guess. They forgot the part of their job where they're supposed to handcuff the defendant. I don't want to tell the city of Las Vegas how to do their job, but when you have a man being sentenced for his 1000th violent offense, maybe keep his hands secured behind his back. Maybe don't leave him entirely unblocked with a clear path the quarterback in an empty backfield.

Also, not that great of a job getting him off her either. At all. I suppose they protected the judge, which is the important part. But are those three dudes in dress shirts really the best judge protection Las Vegas has to offer. All Las Vegas courts should have 1 bailiff who looks exactly like Terry Crews. He should stand within 5 feet of the judge at all times. If anybody tries anything, he squashes them with his thumb.

I'm getting more worked up about this the more I think on it. Do they even have tasers? How do you not have tasers?! I'd be so fucking pissed if I were that judge. Just completely left out to dry. Not a single person in that courtroom had their head on a swivel. You're in Las Vegas for Christ's sake. Everybody there is drunk. Are you not expecting this to happen every day? People lose their minds in Vegas all the time. Even I'm liable to attack a judge in Vegas if I lose enough money and take the wrong combination of substances.

I made this same point about Spirit Airlines the other day. You don't blame Spirit when 3 women break out into a fist fight on the plane. They're Spirit Airlines. Just like you don't blame a violent Las Vegas criminal when you leave him completely free of constraint while a smirking judge jokes that "she's gonna give him a taste of something else". What do you fucking think he's going to do? He's gonna try to kill her. Be better Las Vegas Courts.