WASHINGTON – A judge and defendant in a Florida court each got a shock at a hearing on Thursday: The judge recognized him as a junior high-school classmate.

Arthur Booth, 49, was arrested Monday in Hialeah and charged with burglary, grand theft, fleeing and resisting arrest. On Thursday, Judge Mindy Glazer suddenly asked whether Booth had gone to Nautilus Middle School, NBC Miami reports. They both recognized the connection.

“Oh my goodness, oh my goodness,” he said repeatedly, while covering his head and crying.

“I’m sorry to see you there. I always wondered what happened to you, sir,” Glazer said. She described Booth as “the nicest kid in middle school.”

She finished by telling Booth she hoped he could change his ways, adding, “”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.”

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