Lawyer’s lewd flick of the wrist gets him 90 days

Prosecutor says gesture is just the latest in string of offensive behavior

Video: Crime & courts

Former DC mayor arrested on stalking charges
July 6: Former Washington D.C. Mayor, and current D.C. Councilman Marion Barry has been arrested for allegedly stalking a female acquaintance. WRC's Darcy Spencer reports.

Sister defends Amanda Knox

Manhunt for S.C. serial killer

McNair’s death ruled a homicide

Conflicting details emerge in Knox case

On the run

15 Most Wanted

The U.S. Marshals want your help finding their "15 Most Wanted" fugitives, a notorious list of suspects fleeing everything from murder and robbery to child sex charges. To date, about 200 of the fugitives profiled on the list have been found. Tips leading to an arrest are rewarded up to $25,000. Click here to see the fugitives.

Breaking news alerts (about 1 per day)
Click here to sign up or text NEWS to MSNBC (67622).

Find more alerts at alerts.msnbc.com

Most popular

• Most viewed

• Top rated

• Most e-mailed

Police may have killed suspect in S.C. slayings

S.C. town terrorized by 5 killings in past week

Jackie O, RFK had steamy affair, book claims

More than 150 killed in ethnic clashes in China

Makeover! Wife renews vows – and her looks

Most viewed on msnbc.com

updated 9:39 p.m. ET April 16, 2008

AUSTIN, Texas - A flick of the wrist has landed an Austin lawyer in jail for contempt of court. A judge sentenced defense attorney Adam Reposa to 90 days in jail on Tuesday for making a lewd gesture and simulating masturbation while standing before a County Court-at-Law judge in March.

At a contempt hearing Monday, Judge Jan Breland said Reposa, 33, rolled his eyes and looked at her while motioning with his right hand. Reposa said the gesture came from near his hip and was aimed at a prosecutor while discussing plea negotiations in a drunken driving case.

Reposa's attorney asked for a sentence of one day in jail.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

Visiting State Judge Paul Davis, however, said it was his "honor to uphold the integrity of the judicial process" and sentenced Reposa to 90 days. The attorney was led from the courtroom in handcuffs.

Davis said he teaches a course on courtroom decorum to new judges and said such cases are very rare. He also noted that Reposa had fluctuated between apologizing for offending Breland and justifying his behavior as a zealous attorney defending a client.

In a closing argument, First Assistant County Attorney Randy Leavitt said Reposa's gesture was just the latest in a string of offensive behavior, which included calling prosecutors vulgar names in court.