Video: Judge recognizes defendant as middle school classmate

MIAMI- An unusual reunion in a Miami-Dade courtroom, as the judge and defendant realize they are former classmates.

“Hi Mr. Booth, you’re back. This time you’re charged with a burglary.”

From the classroom, to the courtroom.

“Mr. Booth, I have a question for you,” said Judge Mindy Glazer.

“Yes ma’am,” said the defendant, Arthur Booth.

“Did you go to Nautilus for middle school?” asked the judge.

Arthur Booth, 49, now a suspected burglar, reunited with his middle school classmate Judge Mindy Glazer.

Now, decades later the two have been brought together in the court of law.

Booth broke down in tears during the unexpected reunion.

“I’m sorry to see you there, I always wondered what happened to you, sir,” said the judge and Booth cried.

“This was the nicest kid in middle school,” she went on to say.

On June 29, Booth was seen leaving the scene of a burglary in Hialeah. Police say Booth failed to pull over as they tried to conduct a traffic stop.

The police report says he drove his vehicle onto the median and into the oncoming traffic lanes before abandoning his car.

In bond court, Glazer said Booth’s alleged behavior was not the childhood classmate she remembered.

“He was the best kid in middle school, I used to play football with him, all the kids looked up to him and look what has happened. I’m so sorry to see you there.”

“Mr. Booth, I hope you’re able to change your ways, good luck to you,” the judge told her former classmate.

As Booth continues to cry, Glazer delivered a message she hopes will help turn his life around.

“What’s sad is how old we’ve become. Good luck to you sir, I hope you’re able to come out of this okay and just lead a lawful life.”