Woman apologizes for flipping off judge

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MIAMI, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A young Florida woman who flipped off a judge and cursed at him avoided a month in jail by apologizing to him Friday.

Penelope Soto Soto, 18, had tears in her eyes when she apologized to Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat for her previous behavior in his courtroom, WFOR-TV, Miami, reported. She admitted she was under the influence of Xanax and alcohol during her first hearing Monday when her disrespectful behavior drew the 30-day jail term.

Rodriguez-Chomat accepted the apology and dropped her contempt of court charges.

Soto, facing a charge of possession of Xanax, had laughed throughout her Monday hearing, displayed her middle finger to the judge and told him, "Go [expletive] yourself!" after he raised her bond from $5,000 to $10,000.

Soto's attorney said she will undergo a program that includes treatment for drug addiction and could lead to the drug charges against her being dropped, WFOR-TV said.