SAG HARBOR, NY – Justin Timberlake spoke out after shooting plea deal in his DWI case on Long Island.
Timberlake, 43, appeared in court Friday in Sag Harbor and agreed to plead guilty to driving while ability impaired (DWAI), a lesser traffic violation. The DWI charge against him was dismissed.
The plea deal includes a $500 fine with $260 in surcharges, as well as 25 hours of community service at a non-profit organization of his choice. Timberlake has a year to complete community service. The deal also required Timberlake to make a public safety announcement, which he did immediately after his court appearance.
The judge was initially unhappy with the terms of the plea, citing the minimum sentence, and asked Timberlake if he would also receive community service, to which Timberlake agreed.
Camera crews surrounded Timberlake as he entered court Friday morning, and a large crowd gathered outside the courthouse to await his statement.
“I could have made a different decision”
Timberlake spoke outside court after the proceedings on Friday.
“Many have probably covered me for most of my life, and you can understand, I try to hold myself to a very high standard, for me. And this is not that. I found myself in a position where I could make a different decision,” he said. Timberlake.
Timberlake said he had time to think about the matter.
CBS News New York
“And what I want to say to everyone watching and listening is, even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel,” Timberlake added. “There are many alternatives. Call a friend. Take Uber. There are many travel apps. But, take a taxi. This is a mistake I made, but I hope anyone watching and listening now can learn from this. I know I always have .
Timberlake thanked the people of Sag Harbor for all the attention he brought to the city.
“We can all be safer out there, and I will do my part. I hope that everyone else does their part,” Timberlake said.
Timberlake’s lawyers said they were happy with the reduced charges, and denied reports that Timberlake was drunk when he was arrested.
“The evidence shows that my client finished the contents of one drink in two hours at the American Hotel,” said lawyer Edward Burke. “And contrary to what was reported, he did not drink other people’s liquor, or he was warned before driving, he was not rude, he was not delinquent. he was cooperative, he was respectful in his encounters with law enforcement, as they did to him.”
Justin Timberlake arrested for DWI in Sag Harbor
Port Sanga Police Station
Back on June 18, Timberlake pulled in the village of the Hamptons after he allegedly drove through a stop sign and failed to stay on the right side of the road.
According to court documents, arresting officers said they could smell alcohol on Timberlake’s breath and that the pop star had bloodshot eyes, “did poorly” on a field sobriety test and refused a breath test. Timberlake allegedly told officers he had one martini earlier in the evening.
Timberlake was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. He was released on his own recognizance after an arraignment later that morning.
Timberlake appeared in court on August 2 and pleaded not guilty. At the hearing, a Sag Harbor village judge suspended his license to drive in New York, which is standard practice in the state for DWI cases. Timberlake was in Germany at the time his world tour.
Next up on Timberlake’s tour is the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on September 28. They will play the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on October 7th before returning to the Prudential Center on October 8th.
