WASHINGTON – A judge who was attacked by a defendant in a Las Vegas courtroom last week sentenced the man on Jan 8 to 19 to 48 months in prison on a previous battery charge, emphasising that his actions last week did not affect her sentencing decision.

The man, Deobra Redden, 30, drew national attention on Jan 3 when a courtroom video showed him leaping over the bench onto Judge Mary Kay Holthus of Clark County District Court, causing the flags behind the bench to fall.

Judge Holthus, 62, was injured in the attack, as was a court marshal and the judge’s law clerk, officials said.

On Jan 8, Redden returned to Judge Holthus’ courtroom to complete the sentencing hearing that his violent outburst had interrupted.

He stood with his hands chained to his body and a mesh mask over his head. At least four officers stood by his side. He said nothing during the brief hearing.

Judge Holthus emphasised that Mr Redden was being sentenced solely on an April 2023 battery charge, to which he had previously pleaded guilty. She said any charges related to his attack last week would be handled by a different judge.

“For purposes of the record, I want to make it clear that I am not changing or modifying the sentence I was in the process of imposing last week before I was interrupted by the defendant’s actions,” the judge said.

In addition to handing down the prison sentence, she also required that Redden pay several hundred dollars in administrative fees.

Last week, Redden’s lawyer, Mr Caesar Almase, asked the judge to sentence his client to probation.

“I appreciate that, but I think it’s time he get a taste of something else,” Judge Holthus said at the hearing, just before the attack.

“I just can’t, with that history,” she added, appearing to refer to Redden’s criminal background.

Mr Almase did not immediately respond to a phone call and an e-mail seeking comment on Jan 8.

Judge Jerry Wiese II, the court’s chief judge, said at a news conference last week that Judge Holthus had been treated for injuries after the attack and was able to return to work, although she remained “sore and stiff”.

The court marshal was treated for a head injury at a hospital and released, said Judge Wiese, adding that Judge Holthus’ law clerk suffered hand abrasions.

The law clerk was “the primary person who pulled the defendant off of her and probably kept her from receiving more severe injuries”, Judge Wiese said.

He said that Judge Holthus was “extremely grateful for those who took brave action during the attack”.

Judge Wiese said that the court had met its security contractor to bring in additional security personnel and had notified Clark County managers of the need for additional court officers. He said there was generally one court marshal assigned to each courtroom.

“I don’t know what could have prevented this,” Judge Wiese said. “We are looking at every opportunity we can to make things better.”

He said the attack was a “very unique situation, which as far as I know has never happened before”.

“It’s somebody Superman-ing over a judicial bench,” he said.

Jail records show that after Redden was taken into custody following the attack, he was booked on several charges related to the episode, including battery of a protected person, extortion and intimidating a public official. His bail was set at US$54,000 (S$72,000).

Redden had previously spent time in prison, including in 2015, when he was sentenced to a minimum of 19 months for attempted theft, jail records show. He again served time in 2021 for domestic battery, according to Nevada Department of Corrections records.

Judge Holthus became a judge in 2019 after working for the Clark County District Attorney’s Office for more than 27 years. NYTIMES