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Justin Timberlake appeared in court Friday in connection to his June DWI arrest.
The former *NSYNC star pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of “driving while ability impaired” and was given community service, 25–40 hours, at the Sag Harbor, New York, courthouse.
Timberlake reached a plea agreement with prosecutors before the hearing. Exact details of the agreement were not disclosed, but a person with knowledge of the deal said Timberlake had agreed to admit guilt to the lesser offense of “driving while ability impaired,” a traffic violation that carries a $300 to $500 fine and a 90-day license suspension.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE EXPECTED TO CUT PLEA DEAL IN DWI CASE
Justin Timberlake arrives to court in Sag Harbor, New York, on Sept. 13, 2024. (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)
Timberlake addressed reporters after his hearing, making a public apology, and giving a drunk driving PSA as required in the plea agreement.
“So I don’t, I don’t know how many of you, were in the courtroom and heard what I had to say in the courtroom, but I’ll reiterate that and say this to you. Many of you have probably been covering me for a lot of my life. And as you may know, I try to hold myself to a very high standard for myself. And this was not that. I found myself in a position where I could have made a different decision, but I’ve had some time to reflect on that.”
“And I also understand by, you know, the fact that all of you are here, that I have a platform, you have a platform, we share that platform. And so what I 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’s so many alternatives. Call a friend. Take an Uber. There’s many travel apps … take a taxi.”
A courtroom sketch depicts Justin Timberlake standing before Judge Carl Irace in Sag Harbor, New York, on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. The pop star is being ordered to perform community service as part of a plea deal stemming from a DWI arrest in June this year. (Christine Cornell )
He continued, “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. And like I said, even one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car.”
“I also said this in the courtroom before, but I grew up in a small town, so I can appreciate and understand the strain or unique nature that this must have been on the people of Sag Harbor. But I just want to say to everyone who’s been involved, from everyone in the courtroom to everyone outside, including the police department, that I’m very grateful. And I thank them and, I guess in closing, I’d like to say we can all be more safe out there. And I’m going to do my part. I hope that everyone else does their part. And thank you very much.”
Justin Timberlake speaks to the press after a court hearing on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024 in Sag Harbor, New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Timberlake left immediately after his statement before family members of Andrew McMorris, a 12-year-old killed by a drunk driver on Long Island in 2018, spoke to the press.
Andrew’s mother, Alisa, called for Timberlake to make announcements at the end of his concerts asking fans not to drive if they are impaired. She hoped the musician learned from his mistake and that he uses his platform to raise awareness moving forward.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE’S LAWYER CLAIMS POLICE MADE ‘SIGNIFICANT ERRORS’ DURING STAR’S DWI ARREST
Justin Timberlake is escorted into Sag Harbor courthouse. (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)
Judge Carl Irace agreed with the prosecution’s decision to reduce the charge of DWI but criticized the proposed deposition. He claimed the sentence requested by the prosecution put the court in an “awkward and disappointing position.” Instead, the judge added community service at a non-profit of Timberlake’s choice.
“The proposed PSA is a statement on the sidewalk after court and unsatisfactory,” Irace told prosecutors. Without community service, Irace noted Timberlake was able to “walk away” from this case, having dedicated very little time.
He added: “Community service should be required and is an essential part of taking responsibility.”
Justin Timberlake appears in court in Sag Harbor, New York on Friday, September 13, 2024. (T.E. McMorrow/Pool)
Justin Timberlake pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of “driving while ability impaired” after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors. (T.E. McMorrow/Pool)
Suffolk County District Attorney, Raymond A. Tierney, told Fox News Digital in a statement, “Today, Mr. Timberlake chose to plead guilty and accept responsibility for driving while his ability was impaired by alcohol. We appreciate his willingness to hold himself accountable for his behavior, and for using his platform to increase public awareness about the dangers of drunk driving.”
The statement noted that Timberlake “received the same treatment as any other defendant. Justice should be applied equally to all individuals, regardless of their wealth or celebrity status.” He added that “there is no excuse to get behind the wheel when you are impaired in any way” with so many other options such as public transit and ride-shares.
“My office remains committed to holding individuals accountable for driving while intoxicated or impaired by drugs, and we will continue to work towards ensuring the safety of our community,” the statement concluded.
Justin Timberlake was arrested in June for allegedly driving drunk. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Timberlake arrived at court wearing black sunglasses and accessorized with a double strand pearl necklace. The musician was joined by an entourage of people – including his lawyer, Ed Burke Jr., bodyguards and his music manager, Johnny Wright.
When pulled over by authorities the morning of June 18, Timberlake “performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests,” the arresting officer claimed in documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
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Justin Timberlake’s mugshot, taken at the Sag Harbor Police Department. (Sag Harbor Police Department)
Timberlake had “bloodshot and glossy” eyes, a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath” and he was “unable to divide attention,” according to the complaint. The “Cry Me A River” singer also exhibited “slowed speech” and was “unsteady afoot.”
Timberlake’s lawyer, Burke, previously claimed police made “significant errors” during the musician’s June arrest.
WATCH: JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE DRIVING IN THE HAMPTONS AHEAD OF DWI ARREST
Video“The most important fact to know about this case is that Justin was not intoxicated and should not have been arrested for DWI,” Burke said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “The police made a number of very significant errors in this case. In court today, you heard the district attorney try to fix one of those errors. But that’s just one, and there are many others. Sometimes the police make mistakes, and this is just one of those instances.”
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Timberlake was originally charged with one count of driving while intoxicated along with citations for failure to keep right and failure to stop at a stop sign, the district attorney’s office confirmed to Fox News Digital.
The pop star told the arresting officer he had one martini and was following some friends home, according to the documents. After being arrested and taken to a police station in nearby East Hampton, he refused a breath test, according to the court papers, which listed his occupation as “professional” and said he’s “self-employed.”
Justin Timberlake has been touring amid his legal drama. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles)
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) called out Timberlake’s plea deal.
“MADD does not support plea deals in cases involving impaired driving, as we believe justice should be fully served for such a serious crime,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement. “Driving while impaired is a dangerous and reckless choice that puts lives at risk, and the consequences should reflect the gravity of that decision. Plea deals diminish the severity of impaired driving, which is a violent crime that kills and injures thousands of people every year.”
“MADD has asked for Mr. Timberlake to do the right thing by using his significant platform to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving and help prevent this crime,” the statement continued. “Though it has been reported that Mr. Timberlake will produce a PSA with MADD, we have not been formally contacted by his representatives. MADD will continue to advocate for justice and accountability in every impaired driving case, and we hope Timberlake’s future decisions reflect the seriousness of this issue and contribute meaningfully to our cause.”
Justin Timberlake takes the stage for his “Forget The World Tomorrow” tour. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Timberlake addressed his drunk driving arrest days after it happened at his Chicago stop of “The Forget The World Tomorrow Tour.”
“It’s been a tough week,” the 10-time Grammy winner told fans at the United Center during his first performance following the arrest. “I know I’m hard to love sometimes, but you keep loving me right back.”
The “Bye Bye Bye” singer took some heat earlier this year when Britney Spears wrote about their relationship in her memoir. The pop star alleged the former couple had an abortion, and she addressed Timberlake’s infamous “Cry Me A River” music video which featured a Spears look-a-like.
Spears claimed she was painted as a “harlot who’d broken the heart of America’s golden boy” by the media.
Timberlake took the stage shortly after and seemingly responded to Spears, saying, “I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to absolutely f—ing nobody.”
The Associated Press and Ashley Papa contributed to this report.
