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Thursday, April 18, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Never Flip Off a Judge

MIAMI (CN) - A Miami teenager who flipped off a judge in court was sent to jail for 30 days - much to her surprise - for contempt of court.

Penelope Soto, 18, appeared in court Monday on a charge of possessing Xanax. Police arrested her Sunday evening after she told them she had crashed her bicycle while she was high on the drug, according to the Miami NBC News affiliate.

As video of the hearing shows, a giggly Soto, in an orange jumpsuit, flipped off Miami-Dade County Judge Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat and told him "fuck you" after he set her bond.

Judge Rodriguez originally set her bond at $5,000 and told her, "Bye-bye."

In the video, Soto laughs and says, "Adios."

Rodriguez, annoyed at her demeanor, called her back and raised her bond to $10,000.

To Soto's question, "Are you serious?" the judge replied, "I am serious. Adios."

Soto then turned her back and flipped him off as she headed for the door.

Rodriguez called her back again and asked, "Did you say, fuck me?"

Soto admitted it. "Yes, sir, I did," she said.

He sent her to jail for 30 days for contempt of court, in addition to the charge of possessing a controlled substance without a prescription.

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