14 DAY TRIAL // Penelope Soto is back in court, this time to report that she is drug-free and has undergone counseling. Soto's case came to our attention earlier this month, when she gave a Florida judge the finger during a hearing.
Soto was in court for possession of regulated substances, in the form of 26 Xanax pills. The first offender is set to return on March 22, when her sentence ends.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat was not amused, and sentenced the 18-year-old to 30 days in jail for being in contempt of court proceedings.
At the time of her first trial, it was speculated that she was under the influence of drugs. Asked by the judge to determine the value of the jewelry she was wearing, she responded by poking fun at the question.
"It's not a joke, you know, we're not in a club now. [...] We are not in a club, be serious about it," Rodriguez-Chomat told her.
"I'm serious about it, you just made me laugh. [...] You just made me laugh, I apologize. It's worth a lot of money," she responded.
According to NBC, eight mandatory drug tests and attending sessions with a counselor came with her 30 days in jail.
Soto has made a complete turn-around, passing eight out of eight tests and apologizing for her rude gesture in court.
"Eight out of eight, that's perfect, congratulations!" says Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jeffrey Rosinek.
After the hearing with Judge Rodriguez-Chomat, the defendant apologized for the insults she brought him. Judge Rosinek has noticed that she is making progress in her rehabilitation.
"Ms. Soto, congratulations, I think lots of things have changed for you, for one, you smile now, which we didn't see before, and I wish you well in the program. Congratulations again," he notes.