Summary:
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Justin Timberlake pleads guilty to reduced DWI charge after appearing in court, expresses remorse, and accepts plea deal.
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Under the plea deal, Timberlake will complete community service, make a public service announcement, pay fines, and face license suspension.
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Attorney clarifies Timberlake had only one drink over two hours, denies excessive drinking or inappropriate behavior claims.
Justin Timberlake’s legal troubles regarding his driving while intoxicated (DWI) case concluded on Friday with a plea deal. The musician, who is 43, appeared in Sag Harbor, New York, on September 13 for a hearing where he pled guilty to a reduced charge of driving while ability impaired.
Accompanied by his attorney, Edward Burke Jr., Timberlake addressed the court during a session with Sag Harbor Village Justice Carl Irace. The musician expressed remorse, stating that his actions fell short of the high standards he holds for himself.
“I did not live up to the standard I hold myself to,” Timberlake said, acknowledging that he had reflected on his actions since his June arrest. He added that he had felt a “position of disappointment” and recognized the impact his behavior could have on local resources.
Timberlake thanked those involved in the case and acknowledged the strain such incidents can place on smaller communities.
Following Timberlake’s statement, Judge Irace questioned the singer about his decision to drive when alternatives like taxis or rideshare services were available.
“I found myself in a position where I should’ve taken a moment,” Timberlake admitted. “I should’ve had better judgment. I understand and appreciate the seriousness of this.”
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Judge Irace commended Timberlake for his sincerity and introspection, saying, “I believe you.” The judge then approved the plea deal and outlined the terms of the sentence.
Under the plea deal, Timberlake will be required to make a public service announcement about the dangers of driving impaired, pay a $500 fine plus a $260 surcharge, complete 25 hours of community service at a nonprofit of his choice, and have his driver’s license suspended for 90 days.
After the hearing, Timberlake and Burke addressed the media. Burke clarified that Timberlake had consumed only one drink over a period of two hours at the American Hotel and denied reports suggesting the singer had been drinking excessively or behaving inappropriately.
“The evidence revealed that my client finished the contents of one drink in two hours,” Burke said. “Contrary to what was reported, he wasn’t drinking other people’s drinks, or warned in advance not to drive. He wasn’t rude, he wasn’t obnoxious, he wasn’t belligerent. In fact, he was polite and respectful during his entire encounter with law enforcement.”
Timberlake, who is married to actress Jessica Biel and has two sons, was initially charged with driving while intoxicated after an arrest on June 18. He also faced citations for running a stop sign and failing to keep within his lane. According to the arrest report, an officer observed Timberlake’s 2025 BMW violating traffic laws and noted signs of impairment, including bloodshot eyes, a strong odor of alcohol, and poor performance on sobriety tests.
Burke had previously maintained that Timberlake was not intoxicated at the time of his arrest. A motion to dismiss the case was filed in July but withdrawn in August when Timberlake appeared virtually from Antwerp, Belgium, to plead not guilty.
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During that August hearing, Timberlake’s license was suspended for a year in New York after he refused to take a breathalyzer test at the police station. Burke described this as a standard procedure in such cases.
Timberlake, a 10-time Grammy Award winner, is currently on his Forget Tomorrow World Tour. A source close to Timberlake stated that his primary focus remains on his tour. Another insider mentioned that both Timberlake and Biel have moved past the arrest and are concentrating on their professional projects.
Timberlake’s next concert is scheduled for September 28 in Newark, New Jersey. He is set to continue touring through June 2025.
