Justin Timberlake pleaded guilty to impaired driving on Friday, resolving the criminal case stemming from his June arrest in New York’s Hamptons on a drunk driving charge.
The NYNCS singer-turned-solo star and actor appeared in Sag Harbor Village court to enter a new plea to the lesser charge.
The judge sentenced Timberlake to a fine of $500 with a $260 surcharge, 25 hours of community service at a non-profit of his choosing and required him to make a public safety announcement.
“I try to hold myself to a very high standard, for myself, and this was not that,” Timberlake told media and other onlookers gathered outside the courthouse after the hearing.
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“Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car,” he said. “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 proceedings, Timberlake remained standing throughout and gave a statement in which he expressed remorse for his actions.
He said he grew up in a small town and appreciated the kind of strain his arrest has made on Sag Harbor. He said he has had a lot of time to reflect on his actions.
“I did not live up to the standards that I try to hold for myself,” he said.
Timberlake said he is “grateful for the opportunity to move forward” and use his platform to hopefully help others make “better decisions”.
“I should’ve had better judgment,” he said to the judge. “I understand the seriousness of this.”
Judge Carl Irace expressed disappointment with the proposed plea deal put forward by prosecutors. He questioned the appropriateness of the public announcement Timberlake intended to make shortly after the court proceedings. He was concerned it did not give proper time for him to reflect on his actions for that reason, he said he was adding on community service requirements to the sentence.
“My experience is that these conditions can prove helpful and even gratifying for the accused,” the judge said.
The pop star originally pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanour charge of driving while intoxicated and had his driving licence suspended during a hearing last month.
Speaking outside the court after the hearing, Edward Burke jnr, Timberlake’s lawyer, maintained that his client only had one drink in two hours at the American Hotel.
“Contrary to what was reported, he wasn’t drinking other peoples’ drinks, or warned in advance not to drive,” said Mr Burke, adding that Timberlake was also polite and co-operative during his arrest.
Mr Burke said the lesser charge Timberlake pleaded to is “consistent with these facts”.
Prosecutor Patrick O’Connell told the judge that Timberlake’s public service announcement would hopefully show that no one is above the law and that celebrities can be treated like everyone else.
He said prosecutors also weighed recommending community service but thought the announcement would be a valuable service in itself because of its potential effect on young people.
Timberlake was arrested in Sag Harbor, New York, a little after midnight on June 18th after police said he ran a stop sign in the village centre, veered out of his lane and got out of his BMW smelling of alcohol.
Police in court filings also said the 43-year-old Tennessee native’s eyes were “bloodshot and glassy” and that he had “slowed speech”, was unsteady on his feet and performed poorly on all sobriety tests.
Timberlake told the officer he had had one martini and was following some friends home, police said. – AP