A Florida burglary suspect broke down sobbing after the judge he was facing recognized him as a former middle school classmate.
Miami-Dade County Judge Mindy Glazer spotted a familiar face Tuesday when Arthur Booth appeared before her on burglary, grand theft and other charges, reported WPLG-TV.
The judge asked Booth whether he had attended Nautilus Middle School, and he was initially surprised before beginning to cry.
“Oh, my goodness, oh, my goodness,” Booth said.
The judge told the courtroom that Booth had been the nicest and best kid she knew at the school, and she had always wondered what had happened to him.
"I used to play football with him, all the kids, and look what has happened," Glazer said. "I'm so sorry to see this."
Booth’s cousin said she hoped the judge’s recognition might help set him back on the right path after falling into drugs and crime instead of fulfilling his great potential.
"It just brought back memories of how smart he was," said cousin Melissa Miller. "He was a scholar, well-rounded, athlete, bilingual."
Miller said family members have been trying to help Booth, who she described as a good person and a loving father and grandfather.
The judge offered best wishes to her former classmate, but she ordered him held on $44,000 bond.
"Good luck to you, sir," Glazer told him. "I hope you're able to come out of this OK and just lead a lawful life."
Watch this video report posted online by WPLG-TV:
