Sept. 13 (UPI) — Pop megastar Justin Timberlake pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of driving while impaired and agreed to pay a fine during a New York court appearance Friday, resolving his June arrest for drunken driving.
Timberlake’s attorney, Edward Burke Jr., told reporters outside of Sag Harbor Village Court on Long Island his client recognizes the seriousness of his actions and has accepted “full responsibility” for them.
However, he continued to maintain that Timberlake was not intoxicated at the time of an arrest during the early morning hours of June 19, claiming he only had “one drink in two hours,” and contrary to some reports, was not rude or belligerent toward police officers.
That evidence, Burke said, resulted in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office deciding not to pursue a criminal DWI charge but rather agreeing to the noncriminal traffic offense of driving while impaired.
Rather than face jail time, Timberlake will pay a fine and perform community service, including recording a public safety announcement about the dangers of drunk driving.
“Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car,” the Grammy-winning former front man of *NSYNC said Friday. “There’s so many alternatives. Call a friend, take an Uber, take a taxi. This is a mistake I made, but I hope whoever’s watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I certainly have.”
The plea deal will not reinstate Timberlake’s driving privileges in New York, which were suspended on Aug. 2 because he refused to submit to a breathalyzer test during his arrest. Because he is licensed in another state, his driving privileges only are suspended in New York.
A police report obtained by the New York Times alleged the singer ran a stop sign and swerved into the oncoming traffic lane after leaving the American Hotel in Sag Harbor. An officer who stopped him reported smelling alcohol on Timberlake’s breath before eventually arresting him.
The arresting officer said Timberlake had bloodshot and glassy eyes, slowed speech, was unsteady while standing and failed a field sobriety test. The complaint also says Timberlake told the officer he only had one drink.
Timberlake was arrested amid his Forget Tomorrow World Tour promoting his latest album, Everything I Thought I Was, which was released in March.
The artist became a singing sensation with the boy band *NSYNC and then as a solo act. He has also performed in a handful of movies.
