Justin Timberlake, who had been facing a criminal charge of driving while intoxicated, pleaded guilty today instead to a reduced violation charge of driving with ability impaired.
The plea leaves Timberlake free of a criminal record, which he would’ve had if convicted of the original misdemeanor charge.
The Mirrors hitmaker, 43, was seen wearing a dark sweater over a black T-shirt and brown slacks as he walked through a sea of reporters and bystanders on Sag Harbor’s Main Street to enter the court.
Timberlake was arrested early in the morning on June 18 in the Hamptons after a night of drinking at the American Hotel. As part of the plea deal, he agreed to pay the maximum fine of $500 and a surcharge of $260. Additionally, he committed to making a public statement about the dangers of drunk driving.
Judge Carl Irace initially expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed statement, preferring a public service announcement. However, he ultimately accepted the deal under certain conditions.
Justin Timberlake is seen arriving to court wearing a black cardigan, a black tee underneath, khaki pants, red tinted shades, and a double stranded pearl necklace
Pictured: Justin Timberlake speaks to the press after a court hearing
Timberlake’s demeanor in court was somber. He expressed a desire to avoid returning to the courtroom and stated his love for the Sag Harbor area.
A major component of the plea deal struck by Timberlake’s attorney, Edward, Burke Jr. and the Suffolk County district attorneys office was that, after entering his plea, he would give a public statement about the dangers of drinking and driving.
To make the public announcement, Timberlake and his attorney exited the courthouse through a pedestrian bridge that connected the court to the police headquarters. This was the same bridge he had crossed in handcuffs on the night of his arrest.
At the police headquarters, Timberlake addressed the media, speaking about the dangers of drunk driving. Before the announcement, he had entered his guilty plea and faced questioning from Assistant District Attorney Ashley Cangro and Justice Irace.
While Cangro accepted Timberlake’s admission of the basic elements of the violation, Irace pressed for more details about the events leading up to his decision to drive. Timberlake expressed deep remorse and acknowledged the life lesson he had learned.
In addition to the fine, Timberlake’s driving license was suspended for 90 days. This suspension runs concurrently with a previous year-long revocation by the Department of Motor Vehicles due to his refusal to take a breath test.
Judge Irace emphasized the importance of community service and required Timberlake to complete between 25 and 40 hours of service. Timberlake agreed and expressed a desire to reach people of all ages with his message.
The hitmaker’s license has been suspended for 90 days and he has to complete between 25 and 400 hours of service
The plea leaves Timberlake free of a criminal record, which he would’ve had if convicted of the original misdemeanor charge
The singer gave his remarks in front of the Sag Harbor police station
Moved by Timberlake’s sincerity, Irace approved the minimum number of community service hours and allowed Timberlake to choose the charity where he would serve. As he left the courtroom, Timberlake thanked the judge and expressed a hope to see him again.
At one point he said to Irace, ‘I don’t want to be back here again,’ to which the judge cheekily replied ‘you should come back to Sag Harbor, it’s a beautiful place.’ The singer chuckled and agreed.
On Wednesday Timberlake agreed to accept a $500 fine in a plea deal to ‘move on’ following his DUI arrest.
Timberlake, who is also willing to do a public service video for the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving – is aiming to ‘focus’ on his family three months after the incident.
The star was initially charged with a DWI, but will now admit to Driving While Ability Impaired instead to avoid a drunk driving charge, per TMZ.
A source informed People on Thursday that Timberlake is, ‘a family man, and this is his focus. He accepted a plea deal because he wants to move on.’
‘The court case has been a distraction,’ the insider continued. ‘He doesn’t want his family to be affected by it.’
While the performer will not face a drunk driving charge, his license was notably suspended last month in August in the state of New York.
The source further expressed to People, ‘It’s not like he’s getting off completely – his license is still suspended.’
According to the insider, Biel ‘has not been happy about it. She’s encouraged him to accept the plea deal.’
Later this week on Friday, September 13, the Selfish singer is set to attend a hearing in New York.
Amid the DWI scandal, Timberlake has also been focusing on his current Forget Tomorrow World Tour, and the source explained that it’s ‘his priority as well.’
Only four days after his arrest, Justin took to the stage in Chicago to resume concert dates and broke his silence over the incident at the time as he addressed fans.
‘It’s been a tough week,’ Timberlake told the crowd, per Page Six. ‘I know I’m hard to love sometimes but you keep loving me right back.’
The star was initially charged with a DWI, but will now admit to Driving While Ability Impaired instead to avoid a drunk driving charge, per TMZ
The Mirrors hitmaker 43 is aiming to ‘focus’ on his family three months after the incident
He further sent love to his fans that were in attendance, stating that they have all faced, ‘ups-and-downs and lefts-and-rights.’
Following Friday’s hearing, the next date in Timberlake’s world tour is set for September 28 in New Jersey at the Prudential Center.
He will then perform additional concerts in both the United States and Canada through December 20.
Next year, Justin will embark in additional international dates and make stops in countries such as Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Norway and Denmark – with the tour concluding on June 14, 2025.
Days after his Hamptons arrest, a separate source told People that both Justin and Jessica have ‘moved on’ and have ‘faith in their legal team.’
‘They’ve moved on from the arrest. They have faith in their legal team and continue to focus on work and their family instead.’
Biel was also spotted cheering on her husband during his tour stop at Madison Square Garden after the arrest. ‘They’re always supportive of each other’s careers.’
‘Jess would never miss a show when she’s able to attend. She’s excited for him,’ the insider added.
The singer wore the same double stranded pearl necklace to court that he did at the iHeartRadio music awards in April
TMZ reported on Wednesday that the singer will avoid a drunk driving charge after he agreed to plead guilty to a traffic violation.
Timberlake will admit to Driving While Ability Impaired, instead of the original DWI charge, which has been dropped. He will pay a $300 to $500 fine as part of the agreement.
An important component to the deal, sources told DailyMail.com, is Timberlake’s willingness to do a public service video for the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
A judge will decide the exact amount of the fine on Friday when the deal is brought before the Sag Harbor Village Justice Court.
The plea bargain deal that was struck by Timberlake’s attorney, Eddie Burke Jr., and the Suffolk County district attorney’s office guarantees that Timberlake will leave Sag Harbor on Friday without a criminal record.
Burke Jr. has repeatedly denied his client was drunk when he was arrested.
Timberlake will still have his New York drivers license suspended for six months because he refused to take a Breathalyzer test when he was pulled over.
The pop star was arrested in the early hours of June 18 following a night out with friends in the exclusive Hamptons enclave of Sag Harbor.
Video shows Justin Timberlake cruising down the street in Sag Harbor early Tuesday before he was pulled over by cops and arrested for DWI
He was pulled over after he ran a stop sign while behind the wheel of his BMW X7, police said.
The singer initially refused a breath test, telling the cops: ‘No, I’m not doing a chemical test. I refuse! I refuse!’
He also claimed to the arresting officers that he’d had ‘just one martini.’
The singer was unsteady on his feet and failed his field sobriety test. Cops had watched him failing to keep right on the road before pulling him over.
Local officers reportedly followed the pop star and observed him swerving across the road, forcing cops to pull him over.
An important component to the deal, sources told DailyMail.com, is Timberlake’s willingness to do a public service video for the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Once he had stopped, officers noted that the singer was ‘glassy-eyed’ with a strong odor of alcohol emanating from him, according to a police report.
The father-of-two performed a field sobriety test and was asked to take a breathalyzer test, which he refused.
The Cry Me A River hitmaker had reportedly been at the upmarket American Hotel prior to the incident.
Timberlake told the officer he had one martini and was following some friends home, according to the documents.
