Pop star Justin Timberlake pleaded guilty to impaired driving on Friday, concluding the criminal case arising from his June arrest in New York’s Hamptons.
The former boy band member and solo artist appeared in Sag Harbour Village Court to enter the plea.
Judge Carl Irace sentenced Timberlake to a $500 fine, a $260 surcharge, and 25 hours of community service at a non-profit of his choice. Timberlake is also required to make a public safety announcement. During the court proceedings, Timberlake stood throughout and expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging his arrest’s impact on Sag Harbour.
“I did not live up to the standards that I try to hold for myself,” Timberlake stated. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to move forward and hoped to use his platform to encourage better decision-making.
Judge Irace, however, expressed concerns about the plea deal proposed by prosecutors. He questioned whether Timberlake’s public announcement was sufficient for reflection and added additional community service requirements to the sentence.
Timberlake had originally pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanour charge of driving while intoxicated, but his license was suspended during a hearing last month.
Timberlake’s license suspension in New York could affect his driving privileges in other states due to the interstate Driver’s License Compact, which shares information about license suspensions and traffic violations across states.
The arrest occurred on June 18, shortly after midnight, when Timberlake was stopped by police in Sag Harbour for running a stop sign, veering out of his lane, and exhibiting signs of intoxication. Police reported that Timberlake’s eyes were bloodshot, his speech was slurred, and he performed poorly on sobriety tests. Timberlake told the officer he had consumed one martini and was following friends home.
Sag Harbour, known for its historical significance as a former whaling village mentioned in Herman Melville’s *Moby-Dick*, is located about 100 miles east of New York City.
Legal expert Kenneth Gober noted that Timberlake’s refusal to take a Breathalyzer test would result in his license being suspended in other states as well, although such changes can be slow to reflect across state lines.
Timberlake’s team has not commented on the case, but the 10-time Grammy winner appeared to address the situation indirectly during a June 21 performance in Chicago. He referred to the week as “tough” while expressing appreciation for his audience’s support.
The singer, currently on tour supporting his latest album, is scheduled to perform in Newark, New Jersey, and Brooklyn in the coming weeks.
