A defendant with barely a dollar to his name had his fine paid off by a judge after he walked five miles to get to court.
In 2021, a heart-warming clip from the inside of a courtroom was shared to the Facebook page of Caught in Providence – a reality TV show starring Chief Judge Frank Caprio.
The footage revealed the moment Daniel Murray came before the judge to face a $250 fine over ‘seven violations’, including five ‘parking tickets’.
After being handed the fines, Murray requested the answer to a ‘quick question’ from Judge Caprio, asking if there was ‘any way’ that the paying of the fines could be ‘deferred a little bit,’ noting he was ‘in a bit of a financial situation’.
When Judge Caprio – who revealed he’d been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer late last year – questioned how much Murray could currently pay towards the fines, he answered: “I have 92 cents in my account.
“I just walked from East Providence this morning to get over here.”
The distance from East Providence to Judge Caprio’s courtroom is reported as measuring five miles, which typically takes around one hour and 15 minutes to one hour and 40 minutes to walk – it’s safe to say it’s a fair distance to cover.
The judge helped to pay the fine. (Facebook/Caught in Providence)
Judge Caprio went on to ask if he could have taken an Uber to court, however, Murray – who said he runs ‘youth lacrosse’ programs – reiterated he has ‘no money’.
Judge Caprio then made a decision to help the struggling man out with a little assistance from his fund, the Philomena Fund, named after his mother.
He handed out $25 from the fund for Murray, saying: “I want you to take an Uber so you don’t have to walk back.”
The motorist graciously accepted the kind offer, replying: “Thank you very much. You saved me a great deal of time today – and money.”
And Judge Caprio’s generosity didn’t stop there.
The motorist explained he had less than a dollar in his account. (Facebook/Caught in Providence)
“We’re gonna help you out with these fines,” the Chief Judge declared. “We’re going to use this fund to pay for your fine, so you’re gonna be all set.”
Totally speechless, Murray said: “Wow, thank you so much. That’s more than generous.”
Judge Caprio went on to say: “You got 25 bucks to take an Uber. And you got this now. Let’s hope things turn out for you.”
However, the judge continued: “Wait a minute. That’s only half the battle. Right. That’s our part, you have to do your part.”
He continued: “You have to help somebody else. There are an awful lot of people out there who have similar problems and you are going to be in a situation to help them.
“Don’t forget them. Remember how you felt? So you have to give back.”
The clip has since been uploaded to Facebook where viewers couldn’t wait to share their reactions to the heartfelt gesture.
One user posted: “This judge is so impressive!”
“He’s just a fantastic judge full of compassion,” echoed a second.
A third added: “This program has help me see there is a lotta good left in the world.”