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Escaped Michigan teen found hiding in the trunk of a judge's car

Feb 7 2009
The Associated Press

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. - A Michigan judge says he's learned a lesson about locking his car after a 16-year-old prisoner who escaped from a courthouse cell was found hiding in the vehicle's trunk.

The Macomb Daily newspaper reports that the teen vanished Friday after appearing in juvenile court in Mount Clemens on a probation violation.

Sheriff's deputies searched for about an hour until a security officer became suspicious when he saw a picture that had fallen to the ground outside the judge's car.

A deputy checked the car and found the boy in the trunk.

Macomb County Circuit Judge Peter Maceroni says the teen likely used a button inside the unlocked car to open the trunk.

Maceroni says that from now on he will lock the car when he's at the courthouse.