Justin Timberlake Reaches Plea Deal in Drunken Driving Case

Justin Timberlake wrapped Friday his drunk driving case with a plea deal in Sag Harbor, N.Y.

The musician, 43, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in in his DWI case and was ordered to pay a $500 fine and perform community service.

Timberlake appeared with his attorney Edward Burke Jr. for a hearing at the courthouse in Sag Harbor after reaching an agreement in the case.

He pleaded guilty to “driving while ability impaired,” which is a violation under New York law. He was initially charged with a misdemeanor count of driving while intoxicated.

“I did not live up to the standards that I try to hold for myself,” Timberlake told the judge. “I should’ve had better judgment… I understand the seriousness of this.”

Timberlake’s license had already been suspended. The judge also sentenced him to 25-40 hours of community service at a non-profit, and ordered him to make a “public safety announcement.”

He fulfilled that obligation by making a brief statement to the press corps outside the courthouse after the hearing.

“Even if you 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. Take a taxi. This is a mistake that I made, but I’m hoping that whoever’s watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have,".

Timberlake entered the village courthouse surrounded by local police, who had to run a gauntlet of photographers and reporters.

The singer was arrested in June after police stopped him for weaving out of his lane and failing to obey a stop sign.

The arresting officer reported that his eyes were “bloodshot” and “glassy,” and that he performed poorly on a field sobriety test. 

Timberlake told the officer he had one martini and was following his friends home, and refused to take a Breathalyzer test.

The artist’s attorney, Ed Burke, had denied that his client was drunk at a previous hearing.

“The most important fact to know about this case is that Justin was not intoxicated and should not have been arrested for DWI,” he said at the time.

A DWI charge is typically imposed for a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher, while a DWAI charge equates to a BAC of .05-.07. 

Prosecutors have said it is not unusual to plead down the misdemeanor to a violation on a first offense, and have denied that Timberlake received any special treatment.