Emotional moment judge recognizes felon in her courtroom from school
Bec Oakes
Featured Image Credit: ABC News
Footage filmed in a Florida courtroom went viral after the judge recognized the suspect as one of her former middle school classmates.
Back in 2015, Arthur Booth was spotted driving a car that matched the description of one involved in a robbery. When he failed to stop for officers a police chase ensued, resulting in his arrest.
He was charged with various counts of burglary, grand theft, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a crash, fleeing from an officer, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest without violence.
He appeared before Judge Mindy Glazer shortly afterwards in Miami-Dade bond court. However, wasn't the first time Glazer had encountered Booth, as revealed below:
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Booth was 49 at the time of his arrest, but years earlier he had attended Nautilus middle school - the same school Glazer attended.
Addressing Booth in the courtroom, Glazer said: "I have a question for you. Did you go to Nautilus for middle school?"
The suspect didn't actually get around to saying yes or no, but his answer was quickly made clear as he exclaimed 'oh my goodness' and broke down in tears.
Glazer described Booth as 'the best kid in middle school' and recalled how the two used to play football together.
"What's sad is how old we've become. Good luck to you, sir. I hope you are able to come out of this OK and just lead a lawful life," she added.
The judge set Booth's bond at $43,000 and Booth went to jail, where he served a 10-month sentence.
However, the story between him and Glazer did not end there, as the judge waited for her former classmate when he was released from jail.
As she hugged Booth and told him to take care of his family, she added: "Try to get a job. Stay clean. You're going to do something good for somebody else."
Booth assured her that he would do as she said and described the judge as both an 'inspiration and a motivation' to him.
As CBS News reports, he added: "'Cause I know where I could've been, but I'm not giving up on life. It's just a new lease on life for me right now."
Family members of Booth told the MailOnline he had spent almost half of his adult life behind bars prior to him being reunited with Glazer, with his cousin expressing hopes that meeting up with his old classmate would act as a 'wake up call' that would allow him to move on and 'start his life over'.
After being released from jail, Booth promised Glazer he wouldn't let her down.