"Nothing Has Changed in 10 Years"... Alumni Meet Again as Judge and Burglar

Past Miami Courtroom Video Gains Attention
Recognizes Middle School Classmate Judge and Tears Up
"Live Well," He Said, But Committed Crime Again

The recent whereabouts of a man who once made headlines in the U.S. as "middle school classmates meeting as judge and prisoner" have been revealed. On the 1st (local time), the New York Post reported, "A man in his 50s, Mr. A, was arrested in Miami, Florida, for a series of theft incidents." It turned out that Mr. A was the protagonist of a viral video from over 10 years ago, in which he faced his middle school classmate as a judge in court while standing trial on similar charges.

[Image source=YouTube channel Timesnack capture]

The video was recorded in June 2015 at the Miami-Dade County courthouse. At that time, Judge Mindy Glazer, presiding over the case, asked Mr. A, who was charged with theft, "Did you attend Nautilus Middle School?" Recognizing the judge’s face, Mr. A repeatedly said "Oh my God" while sobbing. The two had been friends in the same class at the same middle school 36 years earlier, now meeting as prisoner and judge.

The video went viral, drawing attention to their relationship and story. Mr. A had once been a student with aspirations to become a neurosurgeon during middle school, but after falling into gambling in high school, he began stealing others’ belongings due to financial difficulties and eventually got involved with drugs. From then on, he reportedly fell into a life of repeated imprisonment for various crimes including robbery. Judge Glazer said, "He was the kindest kid in school, so what happened to him now?" and added, "I hope he lives a different life from now on."

After waiting for Mr. A’s release following a 10-month incarceration, she warmly embraced him and advised, "Now get a job and take care of your family." At the time, Mr. A confessed, "Meeting my classmate who became a judge was a huge shock to me," and said, "It made me realize I need to get my act together and live properly." He also pledged, "From now on, I will diligently undergo drug treatment and live a new life, not one of despair."

However, nearly 10 years later, Mr. A was once again caught by law enforcement on charges including theft and assault, ending up behind bars. This time, it is reported that Mr. A approached a woman changing a tire on a Miami street under the pretense of asking for directions and snatched her luxury necklace. He was also caught stealing a jewelry box by pretending to be a plumber and entering a stranger’s house.