Vegas judge attacker blames courtroom dustup on ‘bad day,’ claims tried to kill her as he refuses to appear in court: report

The Las Vegas felon who hurled himself over a courtroom dais and attacked a female judge earlier this week said he was trying to kill her and blamed his action on a “bad day” while refusing to appear in court to face the new felony charges he was handed.

Debora Redden, the 30-year-old, three-time felon was being sentenced on Wednesday by Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus for an attempted battery with substantial bodily harm conviction.

Redden’s attorney had asked Holthus to grant parole for the three-time felon, but sentenced him to jail due to his violent past and repeated arrests.

“I think it’s time he got a taste of something else because I just can’t with that history,” she said.

The 62-year-old judge was unable to read off the prison sentence, as Redden had rushed and leaped over the stand, tackling Holthus off her seat.

It took multiple court and law enforcement officials several minutes to subdue Redden.

When he was finally detained and pulled away from the courtroom. Redden blamed his outburst on having a bad day and said he was trying to kill Holthus, according to court documents viewed by KLAS.

“Judge has it out for me,” Redden told officers after he was detained. “Judge is evil.”

He also apologized to the officers for his outburst.

“I’m sorry you guys had to see that,” Redden said before he reportedly asked another officer if what he did was wrong.

While he was still inside the courthouse, Redden allegedly spit in a corrections officer’s face.

During the fracas, Holthus’ head was slammed against the wall, and later told police that Redden was “big, strong and angry.”

She received medical attention at the justice center and later was taken to a hospital by a family member because of continued pain, but was later released.

“She remains sore and stiff but is thankful that this was not more severe,” Clark County Chief Judge Jerry Wiese said on Thursday.

Holthus’ marshal, Shane Brandon, suffered a gash on his face which required 25 stitches.

Law clerk Michael Lasso endured several minor hand abrasions in the fight.

Wiese said Redden’s attack was a rare instance inside a courthouse that is supposed to be a safe place.

“This is a very unique situation, that as far as I know never happened before, with somebody Supermanning over a judicial bench,” he said.

Redden’s sentencing was part of a case from an April 2023 incident where he threatened “to bust the kneecaps” of another man, resulting in substantial bodily harm.

He was ordered to undergo a competency test in May when he was committed to a state behavioral facility before being ruled competent enough to stand trial in October.

Redden was charged with six brand new felonies including coercion with force or threat of force, extortion, intimidate public officers/others with the use of force, disregard of the safety of person/property, battery by prisoner, probationer, or parolee,

He also faces seven counts of battery on a protected person, all gross misdemeanors, according to court records.

Redden failed to arrive for his initial court appearance for the new charges on Thursday, and is scheduled to be in court on Jan. 9 in front of Judge Diana Sullivan.

His time in front of Holthus isn’t over as the two are scheduled to meet again on Jan. 8 for the initial sentencing hearing, according to the outlet.

In 2021, Redden served time in prison for a domestic battery charge after being sentenced to 12-30 months, but a board granted him parole in 2022.