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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 10, 2024)
January 10, 2024 Page 11 Martin Luther King Jr. 2024 Special Edition Defendant who attacked Judge Receives Sentence Small business open house You’re invited Wednesday, Feb. 14 10 a.m. to Noon Oregon Convention Center 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Deobra Redden, 30, had his hands, mouth and face covered during his court appearance Monday where he was sentenced to 19 months to 4 years in prison for a charge of attempted battery with substantial bodily harm. Bloody Brawl with Court Officials and Attorneys AP- A man who leaped over a judicial bench and attacked a Nevada judge on video last week was shackled and closely watched Monday as he appeared before the same judge and was sentenced to up to four years in state prison. The punishment was handed down in connection with an at- tempted battery charge dating to last year that the defendant pleaded guilty to in November and was in court to be sentenced for on Jan. 3 when he rushed the judge. “I want to make it clear I am not changing or modifying the sentence I was in the process of imposing last week before I was interrupted by the defen- dant’s actions,” Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus said as Deobra Delone Redden stood in shackles before her. He was flanked by jail secu- rity guards, with a mask cover- ing part of his face and orange mitts on his hands. While the sentence could last up to four years, Redden could be paroled in 19 months, de- pending on his behavior in pris- on and decisions made by a pa- role board. Neither Redden nor his lawyer, Caesar Almase, was asked to speak during Monday’s brief court appearance. Redden is slated to appear before a dif- ferent judge Tuesday regarding 15 new felony and misdemeanor charges related to the courtroom attack. He could face decades in prison if he’s convicted. Almase declined to comment outside court. He will not represent Red- den on Tuesday because he wit- nessed the courtroom attack. Redden, 30, had been telling Holthus on Wednesday that he was “in a better place” mentally and didn’t think he should be sent to prison. But when the judge made it clear she was going to have him locked up, he vaulted the defense table and dove over the judge’s bench, landing atop Holthus. Video showed her fall back against a wall and an Amer- ican flag toppling forward onto the bench. Holthus suffered some in- juries but was back to work the next day. Redden had to be wrestled off the judge by sev- eral court officers, jail security and courtroom staff members, including some who were seen on video throwing punches. One marshal was hospitalized with a bleeding gash on his forehead and a dislocated shoulder. He was in the courtroom again on Monday, wearing street clothes and a baseball cap. Redden’s foster mother, Kar- en Springer; and older sister, LaDonna Daniels, told reporters outside court that Redden has been diagnosed with schizophre- nia and bipolar disorder, though court records show he was found competent to stand trial. “No disrespect. We’re not denying what he did,” Springer said, noting that she was shocked on Jan. 3 when Redden, in her words, “just snapped.” “He struggles with his ill- ness,” Daniels said, explaining that her brother hadn’t been in treatment recently. “It’s a chem- ical imbalance. I don’t think sending him to prison will help.” Clark County District Attor- ney Steve Wolfson said Red- den’s adult criminal history included convictions for three felonies and nine misdemean- ors, mostly involving violent acts. The community needs to be protected, he said. Red- den remained jailed Monday on $54,000 bail pending his Tuesday court appearance on charges including attempted murder, extortion, coercion with force and battery on a protected person, referring to the judge and the officers who came to her aid. Do you operate a minority-owned, woman-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned or emerging small business? Join us at this special small business event to find out how your company can compete for contracts with Metro and Multnomah County. Register at smallbizopenhouse2024.eventzilla. net/e/2138610677 or scan here Let’s get down to business Contact Metro procurement staff at bidsandproposals@oregonmetro.gov Follow Metro contract opportunities at bidlocker.us
