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Ryan Lasenby is escorted by a Kent County Circuit Court deputy after being found in contempt of court for putting a hat on in the courtroom on Nov. 4, 2013.

(Barton Deiters | MLive.com)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Hopefully it is a nice hat, because putting it on is going to cost Ryan Cameron Lasenby $100 or 10 days in the Kent County Jail.

The 29-year-old Northeast Side resident was waiting for a friend’s sentencing in the courtroom of Kent County Circuit Court Judge James Robert Redford when, as a courtesy, the judge informed everyone that the hearing had been adjourned.

Lasenby had sat patiently with everyone else, waiting for more than an hour with his hat in his lap on Monday, Nov. 4.

When the judge made the announcement and the court moved on to other cases on the docket, Lasenby stood up and started to place the red and blue New Era baseball cap on his head when Redford reminded him that hats are not allowed in the courtroom.

Lasenby pulled the cap off his head, gripping it by the bill -- but kept it close to his head nearly putting it back on as he side-stepped out of the row and started walking toward the door.

Mere steps away from the hall where he could have replaced his cap without penalty, even as several people warned him saying things like “Dude, don’t put the hat on,” Lasenby pulled the trigger and put the hat squarely on his head.

“Excuse me,” said Redford who had been watching Lasenby as he headed toward the door. “You. Stop.”

Lasenby walked toward the hallway, contemplating whether he really needed to return to the courtroom, and then noticed the pair of court deputies moving in his direction.

He returned to the courtroom where the judge inquired whether Lasenby had heard him. Lasenby replied that he had, but said he thought he was close enough to the door to put the hat on.

“I didn’t mean to disrespect the court,” Lasenby said when it was clear the judge was serious.

The judge informed Lasenby that he was being held in contempt of court and would either pay $100 within three days or go to jail for 10 days.

Lasenby appeared clearly astonished.

“Ten days in jail for wearing a hat?” Lasenby said. The judge informed him the fine was for contempt of court and violating a court order. The judge ordered that he be escorted to the clerk’s office to make arrangements to pay or stay in jail.

If Lasenby opts for jail, it won’t be his first time behind bars.

His criminal record in circuit and Grand Rapids District Court shows guilty pleas and charges from crimes ranging from possession and sale of cocaine to second-degree home invasion since 2005.

He has done time in both state prison and the Kent County Jail, according to court records.

He was also charged in 2006 with failure to obey a police officer which was eventually dismissed as part of a plea agreement on possession of cocaine.

As of 5 p.m. Monday, Lasenby had not paid the $100. He has until Thursday to do so or faces 10 days in jail.

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E-mail Barton Deiters: bdeiters@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/GRPBarton or Facebook at facebook.com/bartondeiters.5