Penelope Soto, who flipped off judge, apologizes to the court

MIAMI -- A Miami woman who was jailed on contempt charges after flipping off a judge Monday during a drug possession hearing, apologized for her actions Friday.

18-year-old Penelope Soto laughed Monday when Circuit Judge Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat asked how much her jewelry was worth as he inquired about her financial assets.

The judge told Soto "we're not in a club, be serious about it." Soto said she was being serious.

He set Soto's bond at $5,000 and said, "bye-bye." Soto laughed again and replied, "Adios." He summoned her back to the podium and reset bond at $10,000.

Soto asked, "Are you serious?" The judge replied, "I am serious. Adios."

Soto flipped him off and blurted an expletive as she walked away.

The judge then sentenced her to 30 days in jail.

Friday she was more contrite. "My behavior was very irrational and I apologize not only to the court and you but to my family," Soto said.

Responding to her apology, NBCmiami.com reports Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat dropped the 30-day contempt sentence he had imposed on her when she first appeared before him on a Xanax possession charge.

"I normally don't act like that," Soto told the court.

Rodriguez-Chomat also did away with the $10,000 bond he had set, enabling Soto to be released from jail straight from the court room with her attorney, nbcmiami.com reported. (bitly link: http://bit.ly/12xqPhH).

He told Soto that he hoped she had learned a lesson