Timberlake Pleads Guilty in Drink-Drive Court Deal

Entertainment News: Timberlake Pleads Guilty in Drink-Drive Court Deal

Pop star Justin Timberlake has reached a plea deal to conclude his drink-driving case in New York. The 10-time Grammy winner was arrested on June 18 after running a stop sign and failing to stay in his lane while driving in the Hamptons, a celebrity hotspot. According to the charging document, Timberlake had bloodshot, glassy eyes, and officers detected a strong smell of alcohol on his breath. He refused a breathalyser and performed poorly on field sobriety tests. Timberlake reportedly told officers, “I had one martini and I followed my friends home.”

At his first court appearance last month, Timberlake denied the more serious charge of driving while intoxicated (DWI), which in New York could carry penalties of up to one year in jail. His driving license was also temporarily suspended, which is standard procedure for a DWI arrest. His lawyer stated Timberlake had consumed one drink over two hours and was not intoxicated.

After reviewing the case, the district attorney decided not to pursue the DWI charge. Timberlake pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of driving while impaired, a non-criminal traffic violation. As part of the plea deal, Timberlake has been ordered to pay a $500 fine, plus a $260 surcharge, perform 25 hours of community service, and make a public safety announcement.

Outside the court, Timberlake addressed the situation, saying, “Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car. This is a mistake I have made, but I hope others can learn from it.”

Recommended Articles: