What will you do if your classmate is a judge to your case as a criminal? That is what happened recently, two former classmates came face to face when Booth, 49, appeared before Glazer in her current role as a bond hearing judge.Like many teenagers Arthur Booth had dreams of a successful career. Outstanding at math and science he would tell friends and family he wanted to be a neuro-surgeon.
Sitting across from him in a classroom at Nautilus Middle School in Miami Beach Mindy Glazer also had ambitions. She had set her sights on college - first she wanted to be a veterinarian, but then she decided she wanted to go to law school and a have career as a top lawyer. As millions of people have seen in a heart-wrenching courtroom video only one of those students fulfilled their dream.
Recognizing his former school friend Booth, a burglary suspect, sobbed as he was overcome with emotion at the highly unconventional school reunion. A video of the encounter has been seen more than seven million times. It seemed a surprising moment. But Daily Mail Online has learned that it may be more surprising that they had not met before - as Booth has a lengthy criminal history.
Family members have revealed to Daily Mail Online that Booth has spent almost half his entire adult life behind bars. An addiction to crack cocaine and gambling led him into a life of petty crime as he desperately sought out cash for a quick fix.
It has meant Booth has been in and out of prison since he was 17, squandering any chance of a normal life or the career that he had once hoped for. 'If it had not been for Arthur's addictions to gambling and drugs he would not be where he is,' said his cousin Melissa Miller in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Online
'That has been his downfall. He is not a violent person and has not hurt anyone but to feed his addictions he always needed money and it was easier to steal. 'He has been the architect of his own downfall and made a lot of mistakes. 'Everyone in the family now hopes that appearing before his old classmate and the shame he felt will be the wake up call. We just hope that he can move on from this and start his life over.'
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