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

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

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

The plea deal included a $500 effective with a $260 surcharge, in addition to 25 hours of neighborhood service on the nonprofit of his selecting. Timberlake has a yr to finish the neighborhood 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 25 hours of nonprofit neighborhood service, which Timberlake agreed to. He has a yr to finish it.

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

“I might have made a distinct choice”

Timberlake spoke outdoors of courtroom after the proceedings Friday.  

“Lots of you’ve in all probability been masking me for lots of my life, and as it’s possible you’ll know, I attempt to maintain myself to a really excessive customary, for myself. And this was not that. I discovered myself ready the place I might have made a distinct choice,” Timberlake stated. 

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

“And so what I would wish to say to everybody watching and listening, even in case you’ve had one drink, do not get behind the wheel of a automotive,” Timberlake added. “There’s so many alternate options. Name a good friend. Take an Uber. There’s many journey apps. Nonetheless, take a taxi. This can be a mistake that I’ve made, however I am hoping whoever’s watching and listening proper now can study from this error. I do know that I definitely have. And like I stated, even one drink, do not get behind the wheel of a automotive.” 

Timberlake thanked the individuals of Sag Harbor for placing up with all the consideration that has been dropped at the city. 

“We will all be extra secure on the market, and I will do my half. I hope that everybody else does their half,” Timberlake stated. 

Timberlake praised for pleading responsible, admitting mistake

Timberlake’s lawyer stated he was happy with the decreased cost, and disputed any experiences that Timberlake was drunk when he was arrested. 

“The proof revealed that my shopper completed the contents of 1 drink in two hours on the American Lodge,” lawyer Edward Burke stated. “And opposite to what was reported, he wasn’t ingesting different individuals’s drinks, or warned prematurely to not drive. He wasn’t impolite. He wasn’t obnoxious. He wasn’t belligerent. In reality, he was well mannered, he was cooperative, he was respectful throughout his whole encounter with regulation enforcement, as they had been to him.”

“As we speak, Mr. Timberlake selected to plead responsible and settle for duty for driving whereas his capacity was impaired by alcohol. We admire his willingness to carry himself accountable for his habits, and for utilizing his platform to extend public consciousness in regards to the risks of drunk driving. As beforehand acknowledged, Mr. Timberlake acquired the identical remedy as some other defendant. Justice needs to be utilized equally to all people, no matter their wealth or celeb standing. Drunk and drugged driving is an especially severe nationwide public security situation,” DA Ray Tierney stated. “These drivers threaten the lives of random and harmless roadway customers of all ages, gender, ethnicity, and financial standing. In 2024, with the prevalence and comfort of public transit and ride-shares, there isn’t a excuse to get behind the wheel if you end up impaired in any method.”

The household of Boy Scout Andrew McMorris, who was killed by a drunk driver on Lengthy Island in 2018, was contained in the courtroom.

“I do really feel he was honest, and I can solely hope that his platform with everybody right here will make a major change,” mother Alisa McMorris stated. “This provides me hope that perhaps the following technology would be the technology that ends drunk and impaired driving.”

Lengthy Island protection lawyer David Schwartz says with the plea settlement, Timberlake bought handled like each different first-time offender.

“The 90-day suspension is by statute, the $500 effective is by statute, and the decide threw on 25 hours of neighborhood service, which is totally regular,” he stated.

Justin Timberlake arrested for DWI in Sag Harbor

Again on June 18, Timberlake was pulled over within the Hamptons village after he allegedly drove by a cease signal and failed to remain on the proper aspect of the street.

In keeping with courtroom paperwork, the arresting officer stated he might odor alcohol on Timberlake’s breath and that the pop star had bloodshot eyes, “carried out poorly” on area sobriety assessments and refused a breath take a look at. Timberlake allegedly instructed the officer he had one martini earlier within the night.

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 courtroom just about on Aug. 2 and pleaded not responsible. On the listening to, a Sag Harbor village justice suspended his license to drive in New York, which is a regular observe within the state for DWI instances. Timberlake was in Germany on the time for his world tour.

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