A Las Vegas judge, who was violently attacked by a serial offender in court, revealed she was “absolutely terrified” as she curled up in the fetal position in a bid to protect herself.
Deobra Redden, 30, lunged at Judge Mary Kay Holthus shouting the words “no, screw that bitch” as she rejected his requests for more probation on January 3.
In the bloody fight, Holthus fell back from her seat against a marble wall when Redden landed on top of her and grabbed her by the hair, knocking an American flag over them.
Redden now faces several charges, including attempted murder for the incident involving Judge Holthus.
Holthus, who still has a “lumpy and bruised” head injury, shared that he “wouldn’t be here” if it weren’t for the help of his colleagues.
Judge Mary Kay Holthus, who was violently attacked by a serial offender in court, revealed she was “absolutely terrified” as she curled up in the fetal position in a bid to protect herself.
In testimony obtained by FOX5 Beginning on February 7, the judge recounted how Redden spoke of all the positive steps he had been taking, describing himself as “a changed person.”
Hothus denied the defendant parole for previous convictions for attempted assault causing substantial bodily harm.
“I think it’s time I try something else because I can’t handle that story,” he joked before the now-viral attack occurred.
As he told Redden the outcome, courtroom employees began positioning themselves near the door in case the defendant fled to freedom.
“The next thing I knew, he literally jumped over that defense table and flew before I even could, and he just slammed me into the wall,” Holthus said.
“I don’t know what hit me and where.”
Describing the attack as “incredibly fast”, the judge was thrown against a wall, resulting in a head injury that remains “lumpy and bruised”.
Serial offender Deobra Redden lashed out at Judge Mary Kay Holthus shouting the words ‘no, screw that bitch’ after she rejected his pleas for more probation in a clip that went viral.
She said she was “absolutely terrified” as she lay curled up in the fetal position during the attack before her colleagues intervened.
He added that the defendant was “very strong” and “the bunny jumped on the defendant’s table as if it were nothing.”
Holthus recalled being “absolutely terrified” as she lay curled up on the floor in the fetal position as court staff tried to intervene.
He thanked his companions, since the judge believes that he would not have survived the attack if they had not been present.
‘If they hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t be here. I was not a rival. It was definitely getting on my nerves,’ she said.
“If it were just me, I wouldn’t have survived multiple blows to the head, which is clearly where we were going with this.” So I’m very grateful.”
During his testimony, Holthus stated that he was still dealing with the injuries inflicted during the attack a month later.
Judge Holthus said he still has a “lumpy and bruised” head injury a month after the incident.
He sentenced Redden just a week after the incident to four years in prison for an attempted assault in 2023.
He is now being tried on additional charges related to the attack on the judge. His arraignment will take place on February 29.
The Clark County judge returned to work just a day after the assault and sentenced Redden, who was restrained with shackles, a spit mask and two deputies, a week later.
He was sentenced to four years in prison on the attempted assault charge in 2023.
Redden is now charged with attempted murder of an elderly person, assault, extortion, disregard for the safety of a person resulting in substantial bodily harm and intimidation of a public official with threat of force, according to court documents.
His grand jury arraignment is scheduled for February 29, 2024.