Burglary suspect weeps in the dock when he realises the judge is an old schoolmate

03 JULY 2015

BY VICTORIA MURPHY

Mindy Glazer said she was sad to see how Arthur Booth's life had turned out and remembered playing football with him when he was 'the nicest kid'

Tears: Booth breaks down as the judge recognises him

A burglary suspect in the dock broke down in tears after realising the judge was his old classmate.

Arthur Booth and Mindy Glazer played football together in the playground in their Miami Beach school- but after that their lives took very different paths.

She forged a successful career as a Miami-Dade court judge while he ended up standing before her in an orange prison uniform.

And Arthur, 49, could not hide his emotion when they came face to face in the courtroom.

He didn’t recognise his judge until she said to him: “OK Mr Booth I have a question for you.

Emotion: Judge Glazer said she was sorry for Booth 

“Did you go to Nautilus for middle school?”

At which point Arthur, who was arrested on several charges including burglary, grand theft, fleeing, and resisting arrest, realised who Mindy was and said: “Oh my goodness!

“Oh my goodness!”

He then put his head in his hands and sobbed as Judge Glazer said: “I’m sorry to see you there, I always wondered what happened to you.”

She told the courtroom: “He was the nicest kid in middle school.

Shock: Life had different things in store for the two schoolmates 

“He was the best kid.

“I used to play football with him, all the kids, and look what has happened.”

Then she said: “Good luck to you, sir, I hope you are able to come out of this OK and just lead a lawful life.”

Arthur’s cousin, Melissa Miller, said that he used to be a dedicated student and athlete, but that drugshad taken a grip of his life and that he had eventually turned to crime.

Judge Glazer set Booth’s bail at $44,000 (£28,000).