The man who was recognized by a judge from their middle school days while being reprimanded for a crime has found himself back behind bars.
Arthur Nathaniel Booth, 58, has been arrested over a series of alleged snatch-and-grab jewelry robberies in Miami which took place earlier this month.
He has been charged with multiple offenses, including robbery, burglary, and home invasion.
It sadly appears Booth resorted to his old ways despite his hopeful reunion with Judge Mindy Glazer after their random encounter was viewed by millions of people.
According to Miami Police spokesman Freddie Cruz, Booth targeted multiple victims in August. In one incident, he posed as a water inspector to gain entry into a home, where he stole jewelry and fled, according to investigators.
In another, he allegedly pretended to be a plumber and snatched a gold chain from an 85-year-old man’s neck as he was bending down to open his bathtub’s faucet.
The victim told NBC South Florida he had received the Saint Lazarus pendant as a gift from Cuba and the loss was devastating.
In a third alleged incident, police say Booth approached a woman asking for directions. He then proceeded to snatch her necklace.
‘An individual like this needs to be behind bars,’ Cruz said.
Authorities suspect Booth may be responsible for additional burglaries and are currently investigating.
His latest run-in with the law comes nearly a decade after his tearful encounter with Miami-Dade Judge Mindy Glazer during an appearance also relating to burglary charges.
In a courtroom filled with tension, Glazer unexpectedly asked Booth if he had attended Nautilus Middle School.
Booth was previously reduced to tears when his old school pal called him out from behind her bench. As the judge showered him with good memories, she recalled him as one being ‘the nicest kid in middle school.’
‘He was the best kid in middle school,’ Glazer added. ‘I used to play football with him, all the kids, and look what has happened.’
In the video – later posted online which has since garnered more than 68 million views, Glazer offered words of encouragement.
‘I’m sorry to see you here,’ Glazer said, expressing her disappointment. ‘I always wondered what happened to you, sir.’
Booth, visibly emotional, began to cry.
The touching encounter ended with a reality check when Judge Glazer set Booth’s bond at $43,000. But she had some comforting parting words for her former classmate.
‘What’s sad is how old we’ve become. Good luck to you sir, I hope you are able to come out of this okay and just lead a lawful life.’
Booth is currently being held without bond.
It wasn’t always like this
Fifty years ago, prison wasn’t on the horizon when Booth was handpicked to attend Nautilus Middle School, one of Miami’s premier schools, after excelling at William J. Bryant Elementary.
His parents, Hilda and Fresswell, were overjoyed that their eldest son had been selected for this prestigious institution.
Booth, a self-taught Spanish speaker with a knack for math and science, was considered a bright and promising student.
His aunt, Betty Knight, told DailyMail.com his exceptional abilities and his parents’ pride in his achievements.
Booth’s journey to Nautilus involved a 30-minute bus ride from his North Miami home. He consistently earned high grades and was on track for a successful future.
It was at Nautilus that he first met Glazer, who also attended the school and later became a judge.
Booth graduated from Nautilus in 1980 and continued his education at Miami Beach High School. However, his academic pursuits were derailed by an addiction to gambling that developed during his high school years, which led him to dropping out in 11th grade.
Gambling consumed Booth’s life, leading him to turn to theft to support his habit. He committed a series of burglaries and thefts, but never resorted to violence.
‘Arthur would just gamble on anything and at anytime,’ said his cousin Melissa Miller, 27, in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com
‘If it had not been for Arthur’s addictions to gambling and drugs he would not be where he is.
‘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.’
In 1980, at the age of 18, Booth was arrested for grand theft and spent time in prison. His struggles continued in the 1980s when he became addicted to crack cocaine, a prevalent substance in Miami during that time.
Despite family members’ attempts to intervene, Booth’s addiction spiraled out of control.
In 1988 at age 22, Booth was sentenced to 20 years in prison for burglary and theft. He served 10 years before being released on parole.
Upon his release, Booth struggled to find employment due to his criminal record.
‘It was hard for him when he was out as he couldn’t get work. No one wanted to hire a repeat felon. He would go for jobs and they would just turn him away,’ said Melissa.
‘It was the same when he was trying to find an apartment. He was a felon and no one wanted him.’
The one upside of prison was that he was able to kick his drug addiction but his weakness for gambling remained.
In 1997, at the age of 31, Booth was on work release duty with other inmates helping to clean trash from the roads around Miami.
Despite nearing the end of his sentence Booth fled from the work details and went on the run.
Family members hid him and he remained free for almost two months until he was caught while attending a Miami Heat basketball game.
By 2015, Booth had spent the last 15 years in and out of prison. While he has expressed good intentions, his circumstances have led him back to criminal activity.