Justin Timberlake entered a guilty plea on Friday morning regarding his DWI case. The singer appeared at the Sag Harbor Village Justice Courthouse on Long Island, New York, accompanied by his attorney, Edward Burke Jr.
As part of a plea agreement, Timberlake pleaded guilty to a noncriminal traffic violation related to driving while impaired. However, Judge Carl Irace expressed concerns about the agreement and inquired whether Timberlake would be open to contributing his time to a nonprofit organization of his choice.
Timberlake agreed to serve between 25 to 40 hours of community service and to pay a fine. Following the hearing, he addressed the media, emphasizing his commitment to maintaining a high standard for himself. “This was not that. I found myself in a position where I could have made a different decision,” he admitted. He further cautioned against driving even after consuming a single drink, advocating for alternatives like calling a friend or taking an Uber. “This was a mistake that I made, but I’m hoping that whoever’s watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have.”
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney commended Timberlake for taking responsibility and using his influence to raise awareness about the perils of drunk driving. “Drunk and drugged driving is an extremely serious nationwide public safety issue,” he noted, urging people to refrain from driving when impaired, especially with the available options for transportation in modern times.
Timberlake’s attorney clarified that the singer had one drink over the course of two hours at the American Hotel and dismissed reports suggesting otherwise. He described Timberlake as polite, cooperative, and respectful during his encounter with law enforcement, which contradicted some accounts that characterized him differently.
The Grammy-winning artist was arrested on June 18 in the upscale Hamptons area of Long Island after a night out with friends. Timberlake was stopped for running a stop sign while driving a gray BMW registered in Florida, and he was arrested after failing a field sobriety test. According to the police report, Timberlake stated he had consumed “one martini” and was following his friends home. The arresting officer reported that Timberlake displayed bloodshot and glassy eyes, emitted a strong odor of alcohol, and showed signs of impairment during the encounter.