Justin Timberlake pleads guilty to lesser charge after Long Island DWI arrest, admits

SAG HARBOR, N.Y. — Justin Timberlake spoke out after taking a plea deal in his DWI case on Long Island.

Timberlake, 43, appeared in courtroom Friday in Sag Harbor and agreed to plead guilty to driving whereas potential impaired (DWAI), a lesser site visitors violation. The DWI charge in opposition to him was dropped. 

The plea deal included a $500 high-quality with a $260 surcharge, in addition to 25 hours of group service on the nonprofit of his selecting. Timberlake has a yr to full the group service. The deal additionally required Timberlake to make a public security announcement, which he did instantly after his look in courtroom. 

The decide was initially not pleased with the phrases of the plea, calling the penalties minimal, and requested Timberlake if he would additionally settle for group service, which Timberlake agreed to.

Camera crews surrounded Timberlake as he entered courtroom Friday morning, and a big crowd gathered outdoors the courthouse to await his assertion. 

“I could have made a different decision”

Timberlake spoke outdoors of courtroom after the proceedings Friday.  

“Many of you have probably been covering me for a lot of my life, and as you may know, I try to hold myself to a very high standard, for myself. And this was not that. I found myself in a position where I could have made a different decision,” Timberlake stated. 

Timberlake stated he is had time to replicate on the matter. 

“And so what I’d like to say to everyone watching and listening, even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car,” Timberlake added. “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’ve made, but I’m hoping whoever’s watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have. And like I said, even one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car.” 

Timberlake thanked the folks of Sag Harbor for placing up with the entire consideration that has been introduced to the city. 

“We can all be more safe out there, and I’m going to do my part. I hope that everyone else does their part,” Timberlake stated. 

Timberlake’s legal professional stated he was happy with the lowered charge, and disputed any reviews that Timberlake was drunk when he was arrested. 

“The evidence revealed that my client finished the contents of one drink in two hours at the American Hotel,” legal professional Edward Burke stated. “And contrary to what was reported, he wasn’t drinking other people’s drinks, or warned in advance not to drive. He wasn’t rude. He wasn’t obnoxious. He wasn’t belligerent. In fact, he was polite, he was cooperative, he was respectful during his entire encounter with law enforcement, as they were to him.”

Justin Timberlake arrested for DWI in Sag Harbor

Back on June 18, Timberlake was pulled over in the Hamptons village after he allegedly drove by a cease signal and failed to keep on the appropriate facet of the street.

According to courtroom paperwork, the arresting officer stated he might odor alcohol on Timberlake’s breath and that the pop star had bloodshot eyes, “performed poorly” on subject sobriety exams and refused a breath take a look at. Timberlake allegedly told the officer he had one martini earlier in the evening.

Timberlake was arrested and charged with driving whereas intoxicated. He was launched on his personal recognizance after his arraignment later that morning.

Timberlake appeared in court virtually on Aug. 2 and pleaded not guilty. At the listening to, a Sag Harbor village justice suspended his license to drive in New York, which is a regular follow within the state for DWI instances. Timberlake was in Germany on the time for his world tour.

The subsequent cease on Timberlake’s tour is the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Sept. 28. He will then play the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Oct. 7 earlier than returning to the Prudential Center on Oct.8.