American singer and songwriter, Justin Timberlake, pleaded guilty to impaired driving on Friday, resolving the legal matter stemming from his arrest in New York’s Hamptons earlier this summer.
The former boy band member turned solo artist and actor appeared at Sag Harbor Village Court, where he changed his initial plea.
The court proceedings resulted in Timberlake being sentenced to a $500 fine, accompanied by a $260 surcharge.
He was also ordered to complete 25 hours of community service at a nonprofit organization of his choice and required to create a public safety announcement addressing the dangers of driving under the influence.
Outside the courthouse, Timberlake spoke briefly to reporters and the gathered crowd, acknowledging the mistake that led to his arrest.
“I try to hold myself to a very high standard, and this was not that,” Timberlake said. He urged others not to make the same error, adding, “Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car. There’s so many alternatives. Call a friend. Take an Uber. There’s many travel apps. Still, take a taxi. This is a mistake that I made, but I’m hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have.”
During the courtroom proceedings, Timberlake remained standing throughout and gave a statement expressing remorse for his actions. He shared his personal reflections, mentioning that growing up in a small town helped him appreciate the strain his arrest had placed on the local community.
He stated he had “a lot of time to reflect” on the incident and was “grateful for the opportunity to move forward,” hoping to use his platform to guide others toward making “better decisions.”
“I should’ve had better judgment,” Timberlake said to Judge Carl Irace, emphasizing that he fully understood the gravity of his actions.
Judge Irace, however, voiced concerns about the plea deal, particularly the timing of Timberlake’s planned public safety announcement.
He questioned whether it allowed sufficient time for Timberlake to deeply reflect on his conduct. As a result, the judge decided to add more community service hours to the sentence.
Initially, Timberlake had pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated and had his driver’s license suspended during a previous hearing.
Edward Burke Jr., Timberlake’s attorney, defended his client outside the courtroom, stating that Timberlake had only consumed “one drink in two hours” at the American Hotel.
Burke emphasized that contrary to some reports, Timberlake wasn’t “drinking other peoples’ drinks, or warned in advance not to drive.” He added that Timberlake was cooperative and polite during the arrest.
Burke pointed out that the lesser charge Timberlake ultimately pleaded to aligned with the facts of the case.
The June 18 arrest occurred in Sag Harbor, a historic village in the Hamptons, after Timberlake was pulled over just after midnight.
Police stated that Timberlake had run a stop sign, veered out of his lane, and that, upon exiting his vehicle, the 43-year-old’s breath smelled of alcohol.
Officers also reported that Timberlake’s eyes appeared “bloodshot and glassy,” his speech was “slowed,” and he was unsteady on his feet, failing all administered sobriety tests.
When questioned by officers, Timberlake admitted to having had one martini and said he was following friends home.
Sag Harbor, a village once known for its whaling industry and immortalized in Herman Melville’s ‘Moby-Dick’, is nestled among the affluent Hamptons communities, located about 100 miles from New York City.
A legal expert, Kenneth Gober, weighed in on the case, explaining that Timberlake’s refusal to take a Breathalyzer test triggered an automatic license suspension under New York law.
This suspension could potentially impact his ability to drive in other states as well, given that most states participate in the Driver’s License Compact, an agreement to share license suspension information. However, Gober acknowledged that such changes might take time to be reflected across state lines.
Timberlake’s wealth and resources also mean he likely doesn’t need to rely on driving to get around.
Although Timberlake’s representatives have remained silent on the matter, the Grammy-winning artist made a veiled reference to his troubled week during a concert in Chicago on June 21.
“It’s been a tough week,” he told the audience at the United Center, before adding, “But you’re here, and I’m here. Nothing can change this moment right now.”
Timberlake, who has been on tour for months to promote his latest album, will be performing in the New York City area again soon, with shows scheduled in Newark, New Jersey, and Brooklyn.
