The attack happened around 11 a.m. at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas.
The defendant, Theobra Delon Redden, 30, was wrestled to the floor behind the judge's bench by several court and prison officials and courtroom staff – some could be seen throwing punches.
He was arrested and booked into the Clark County Detention Center, where he faces several new felony charges, including battery on a protected person — referring to a judge and court officials.
“It was hard to know what to do,” said Richard Schoe, the chief district attorney.
Redon's defense attorney, Cesar Almas, did not respond to phone and email messages seeking comment.
Redden was not in custody when he appeared in court Wednesday. Dressed in a white shirt and dark pants, he stood next to Almas and apologized to the judge, while describing himself as “someone who never stops trying to do the right thing, no matter how hard it is.”
“I'm not a rebel,” he told the judge, then added that he didn't think he should be sent to prison. “But if it suits you, you've got to do what you've got to do.”
When the judge made it clear he wanted to put him behind bars and a court marshal moved to handcuff him, Redton yelled expletives and charged forward — amid screams from those sitting with Redton in the courtroom audience.
Records show Retton, a Las Vegas resident, was evaluated and found mentally competent to stand trial before pleading guilty in November. He previously served time in prison in Nevada on a domestic battery conviction, state records show.
A career attorney with more than 27 years of court experience, Holthus was elected to the state court bench in 2018 and again in 2022.
In a statement, court spokeswoman Mary Ann Price said officials are “reviewing all of our protocols and will do whatever is necessary to protect the judiciary, the public and our staff.”
