GRAHAM — A man got 10 days in jail Thursday for pulling down his pants in front of a judge. The incident happened at the close of Jonathan Lee Gaddy’s hearing in Alamance County District Court. Gaddy, 19, of 2239 Melrose Drive, Burlington, was in court Thursday morning on an underage drinking charge.
During the hearing, Chief District Court Judge Jim Roberson told him twice to pull his sweatpants up to his waist. At one point, Gaddy put his hands in his pants and appeared to be fishing around in them.
As Gaddy walked away, he yanked his pants down just above his knees, exposing his underwear. Roberson ordered him taken into custody by bailiffs.
“You basically dropped trou. You showed your rear end to this court,” the exasperated judge said during a contempt hearing later. “You acted like a fool in this courtroom.”
During the dressing-down, Roberson listed Gaddy’s offenses: laughing, making disruptive outbursts, mocking the court and — figuratively and literally — showing his backside.
“You and the other giggling girl in the courtroom with you were very disruptive, to the point it appears you were high on drugs,” Roberson said. “I’m going to remember you. If I hear a peep out of you, it will be contempt.”
Gaddy, under the advisement of defense attorney Todd Smith, apologized to the judge and said he didn’t mean to pull his pants down.
Roberson issued Gaddy a 10-day stay in the Alamance County jail for Thursday’s offense. Judges can order up to 30 days in jail for each charge of contempt of court.