The woman who got a 30-day sentence after she flipped the bird at a Miami-Dade judge is expected to apologize to him in court on Friday.
Penelope Soto's appearance in court on Monday made national news after her profane encounter with Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat earned her a month behind bars.
Soto, 18, who was sporting orange jail clothes and smiled and stroked her hair through the proceeding, laughed when she was asked a question about her jewelry and other assets for posting bond.
Check back here at 2:30 p.m. Friday, when Soto is scheduled to apologize to watch a live stream of the court room
"It's not a joke, you know, we're not in a club now," Rodriguez-Chomat told her. "We are not in a club, be serious about it."
"I'm serious about it, you just made me laugh," Soto replied. "You just made me laugh, I apologize. It's worth a lot of money."
The arrest affidavit says that on Feb. 3, authorities got a call about a woman who had fallen down at SW 96th Street and SW 142 Avenue. When they got there, she was crying and standing near a bike and had grass in her hair. She told authorities she had fallen down, but she appeared to be under the influence, the report said.
Then she spontaneously said: "I'm on Xanax bars and I have more in my purse," the affidavit said.
She opened her purse and handed the officer three green baggies with 26 Xanax bars, the report said. She was arrested, and the Xanax impounded.
Meanwhile, in court on Wednesday she appeared more composed. The proceeding was related to her arrest for possession of Xanax. Soto didn't laugh or smile during the appearance before Judge Jeffrey Rosinek, who had to ask her several times to repeat herself because she was so quiet.
Rosinek set her bond at $5,000, but so far she still has to serve the 30-day sentence.
Soto, who told Rosinek she lives with her mother, will have her case thrown out if she completes a drug program, the judge ruled.
During the initial proceeding, Rodriguez-Chomat set her bond at $5,000 and said "bye-bye," and Soto laughed and replied "Adios."
Rodriguez-Chomat summoned her back and reset her bond at $10,000, shocking Soto.
"Are you serious?" she asked.
"I am serious. Adios," he replied.
Soto started to walk away when she flipped Rodriguez-Chomat her middle finger and blurted "[expletive] you."
She was called back again, and Rodriguez-Chomat gave her a 30-day sentence for contempt of court.
The only judge who can drop the contempt sentence is Rodriguez-Chomat.
A Twitter account, @FreePenelope, featuring a photo of Soto, had been created late Tuesday to support the teen, as well as a Facebook fan page.
Photo Credit: Miami-Dade Corrections
