SAG HARBOR, USA — Pop star Justin Timberlake pleaded guilty on Friday, September 13, 2024, to a lesser charge of driving while impaired following an incident in Sag Harbor, New York, earlier this year.
As part of the plea deal with Suffolk County prosecutors, Timberlake was sentenced to 25 hours of community service, paid a $500 fine, and will have his driver’s license suspended for 90 days.
Sag Harbor Village Justice Carl Irace, presiding over the case, expressed reservations about the initial plea agreement, calling it “surprisingly favourable” to Timberlake and noting that it lacked sufficient retribution.
To address these concerns, the judge added the community service requirement, which Timberlake must complete within a year through a non-profit of his choosing.
When asked by Judge Irace if he was willing to accept the conditions, Timberlake responded, “I would be honored to.”
Timberlake’s Public Statement
After the proceedings, Timberlake made a public statement outside the courthouse, reflecting on the incident and urging others to avoid driving under the influence.
“I try to hold myself to a very high standard of myself. And this was not that,” he said.
“What I’d like to say to everyone watching and listening, even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car. There are so many alternatives — call a friend, take an Uber… 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.”
The incident in question occurred in June, when Timberlake was arrested after leaving The American Hotel in Sag Harbor just after midnight.
Police said he failed to stop at a stop sign and stay in his lane while driving his 2025 BMW down Main Street.
Timberlake also failed a field sobriety test and refused to take a breathalyzer test, according to authorities.
Legal and Public Reaction
At a previous court hearing in August, Timberlake had pleaded not guilty to a driving while intoxicated charge, a misdemeanor that could have carried a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $2,500 fine.
Under New York state law, a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than .05 constitutes legal evidence of impairment, while a BAC of .08 or higher indicates intoxication.
Timberlake’s attorney, Ed Burke, defended his client’s behaviour during the arrest.
“Contrary to what was reported, he wasn’t drinking other people’s drinks or warned in advance not to drive… He was polite, cooperative, and respectful during his entire encounter with law enforcement, as they were to him,” Burke said.
Timberlake has been performing over the summer as part of his Forget Tomorrow tour and is next scheduled to perform in New Jersey on September 28.
The singer, known for his hits and collaborations, will also be required to issue a public safety announcement as part of his sentence.
