DUBUQUE, IA – On July 11, 2025, Unekca Rayelle Smith, a 19-year-old Dubuque resident, was arrested and charged with contempt of court for insolent behavior before the court. The incident occurred at 770 Iowa Street at 9:36 AM, as reported by the Dubuque Police Department.

According to court records (Case: 01311 FECR160468), Smith faced multiple charges stemming from incidents on July 10 and 11, 2025. In addition to the contempt charge, she was charged with second-degree burglary, a Class C felony, and fourth-degree criminal mischief, a serious misdemeanor, both related to events on July 10, 2025. The contempt charge, however, was the focus of the court’s immediate action.

Judge Robert J. Richter adjudicated Smith guilty of contempt on July 11, 2025, following a criminal complaint filed by the Dubuque Police Department. The court issued an order of disposition on the same day, sentencing Smith to five days in jail for her contemptuous behavior. Court documents specify that the contempt charge stemmed from insolence displayed before the court, classified as a violation under Iowa Code 665.2(1).

The burglary and criminal mischief charges remain pending, with no adjudication or sentencing details available as of the latest court filings on July 11, 2025. The Dubuque Police Department initiated the complaints, and Judge Richter oversaw the contempt proceedings.