LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Shocking footage has emerged showing the moment a mentally ill man with a violent criminal history beat up a Clark County Circuit Court judge in Vegas during a hearing Wednesday.
As KTNV reported, Judge Mary Kay Holthus sentenced a three-time felon named Debra Redden for aggravated battery with great bodily harm. He pleaded guilty during the hearing.
Despite his criminal history, Redden hoped the judge would go easy on him. Redden's attorney asked Holthus to sentence his client to probation and allow him to be released on bail, KLAS reported.
But Judge Holtos decided that would be unwise. “I think it's time for (Riden) to get a taste of something else,” she says in the video.
Raiden responds by uttering several obscenities and jumping onto the judge's bench to attack her in a vicious manner. He can be heard repeatedly punching her and shouting obscenities as security officers desperately try to stop him.
Several other people exchanged blows with Redden, including Notary Holthus and a court bailiff, before they eventually threw the thug to the ground.
An alarm also sounded for several minutes to alert others to the incident before it finally ended.
KTNV was the first to obtain video of the attack, which has since gone viral.
He watches:
Here's a slightly expanded version. crazy. pic.twitter.com/1gS41G4zSb
-UngaTheGreat (@UngaTheGreat) January 3, 2024
KTNV revealed that the judge hit her head but somehow escaped the assault relatively unharmed.
However, the district court marshal was taken to hospital as a result of the unprovoked assault.
Clark County Prosecutor Steve Wolfson issued a statement following the horrific attack, expressing his gratitude that Judge Holtos escaped without serious injury, and thanked those who came to her aid.
Thank God the judge is fine. Praise be to God for the heroic efforts of those who came to her aid, especially her marshal and judicial clerk.
Without them, the situation would have been much worse because this defendant has demonstrated extremely violent behavior, and I am confident there will be consequences.
TMZ reports that Redden has had several violent run-ins with the law and a history with Holthus as well.
She was previously charged with malicious destruction of property, according to KLAS. He also served a year in prison on a separate domestic battery charge. He served a year in prison on a domestic battery charge, starting in 2021, records show.
For his latest alleged crime, for which he was sentenced, KLAS reported that on April 23, 2023, Redden threatened to break a man's knees resulting in “great bodily harm.”
In May, another judge ordered Redden to undergo a competency evaluation and be committed to a state behavioral facility. Then another judge found Redden eligible in October.
He pleaded guilty in November. Judge Holthus then issued a warrant for his arrest in December after he failed to appear in court.
