Judge Orders Man to Give One Compliment for Each of the 144 'Nasty' Text Messages He Sent Ex-Girlfriend

A Hawaii judge presiding over a man's sentencing for violating a protection order preventing him from contacting his ex-girlfriend came up with a rather unusual punishment.

In addition to time served, Judge Rhonda Loo in Maui ordered Daren Young to write 144 compliments about his ex-girlfriend, one for each "nasty" text message and call he is accused of sending her. 

"For every nasty thing you said about her, you're going to say a nice thing," Loo told Young at the Friday hearing. "No repeating words."

The 30-year-old was also sentenced to two years probation in addition to the 157 days he served in jail before being sentenced, the Maui News reported.

"It's so childish to think a grown man can be so thumb-happy," Loo said.

Young apologized during the hearing for what he'd done.

"I’m not going to do it again," he said. "I’m ready to move forward with my life, help my mom, who had a stroke."

Despite his atonement, Loo made sure Young felt the full weight of her judgment. 

"You probably shouldn't get a phone, period," she proclaimed, though not as a legal ruling so much as an opinion. "I hope she changed her number."