Man who jumped over judge's table in viral video pleads guilty but is mentally ill

The man who attacked a judge in a Las Vegas court pleaded guilty to attempted murder but was mentally ill.

Deobra Redden told Judge Susan Johnson he agreed to change the plea on seven counts, just minutes after a jury heard testimony from Judge Mary Kay Holthus and a law clerk involved in the January attack.

“Did you do that, sir?” Johnson asked Redden after reading the attempted murder charge.

“Yes,” Redden replied.

His attorney, Carl Arnold, said in a statement that Redden's confession “acknowledges the seriousness of the situation while underscoring his ongoing struggle with severe mental health issues.”

“We deeply understand the pain and trauma Judge Holthus has endured, and we continue to extend our deepest sympathies to her and her family,” Arnold said in his statement. “At the same time, we are committed to ensuring that Mr. Redden receives the appropriate legal and medical support he needs to address his mental health issues.”

Before the trial began, Redden pleaded guilty to six charges and prosecutors agreed to drop two others. Sentencing is scheduled for November 7.

After concluding Redden's plea, Johnson told jurors that the parties had “settled their differences” and they were relieved of duty.

Arnold said he will work to ensure Redden receives a fair sentence that takes into account his mental health condition.

Holthus left the bench to testify as the first witness in Redden's trial. During her testimony, a prosecutor played video of the January attack and the moments leading up to it during the sentencing.

In the video, a prosecutor tells Holthus that Redden has a history of violent crimes and is asking for prison time. Previous charges include burglary, domestic violence and assault on a protected person.

In the video, Redden speaks on his own behalf, and his attorney is asking for a suspended sentence, citing his previous probation programs and his mental health history and background.

“I appreciate that, but I think it's time for him to try something different,” Holthus replies. “With this past, I just can't do that.”

Redden then insults Holthus, jumps over the judge's chair, and attacks the judge, resulting in a scuffle while Holthus' clerk Michael Lasso and a bailiff attempt to restrain and subdue Redden.

“I was lying on the ground and I could just hear – I could just feel somebody coming at me,” Holthus said in court on Thursday. “It was Mr. Redden, because that's where he was. And I could feel somebody trying to pull him down and [someone says]”'Leave them alone.' As if they were fighting over me.”

She added: “As soon as I was lucid enough, I literally rolled into the fetal position on my bench.”

Holthus said she feared for her life during the attack and was worried about the impact that the attack was recorded might have on her family.

“I know there's a video, and part of me thinks I'm going to be dead, but I have three children,” she said. “They're going to watch it, and this is what they're going to see. That's what made me so angry. Not what he did to me, but what he could do to my family.”

Before the trial, Redden pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charge. His attorney, Carl Arnold, argued that Redden did not intend to kill Holthus during his attack.

Under cross-examination by Arnold, Holthus said she suffered no broken bones in the attack. She said she could not remember any details of the attack, such as the number of punches or whether Redden hit her with his fist.

After Holthus, prosecutors called Lasso, who testified that he witnessed the attack and tried to intervene to pull Redden out. The change of plea was entered before Arnold had a chance to cross-examine Lasso.

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