Fla. woman apologizes for flipping off judge

February 8, 2013 @ 12:24 pm


In this image taken from video from the Miami-Dade Circuit Court, Penelope Soto, who is charged with drug possession, right, reacts after Circuit Judge Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat, left, reset her bond from $5,000 to $10,000, in Miami. Immediately afterward, Soto flipped him off and blurted an expletive as she walked away. Rodriguez-Chomat summoned her back and sentenced her to 30 days in jail on contempt charges. (AP Photo/Miami Dade Circuit Court) | Zoom

MIAMI (AP) - A Miami woman has apologized for flipping off a judge, who then dropped contempt charges and vacated her 30-day jail term.

Eighteen-year-old Penelope Soto admitted Friday she was under the influence of Xanax and alcohol when she made the obscene middle-finger gesture and rude comments earlier this week directed at Circuit Judge Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat. Video of the confrontation quickly went viral.

Soto tearfully apologized to the judge, who said the episode should be a lesson in how to properly treat people. Rodriguez-Chomat said Soto would have been a convicted felon if he allowed the contempt charge to stand.

Her lawyer said Soto will complete a drug court program. That includes treatment for drug addiction and usually results in charges eventually being dropped for first-time offenders.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (2)


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  • shark75 wrote...
    She deserves it
    February 6, 2013 2:53 pm
    Kids these days have no respect for authority. Everyone thinks they are Lindsay Lohan. Have fun in jail stupid...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hnuh wrote...
    She apologizes
    February 8, 2013 2:15 pm
    he relents. Big mistake. The little creep's been taught throughout her life she can get away with whatever she wants and he just reinforced the lesson. The younger you bust 'em the more chance they have to get straightened out. Let 'em slide long enough they turn into career criminals.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }