DWI case: Justin Timberlake pleads guilty; ordered fine, community service
What's the story
Justin Timberlake, renowned singer-songwriter and actor, pleaded guilty to impaired driving on Friday.
This plea resolves his drunk-driving criminal case in the upscale Hamptons area, located east of New York City.
The 43-year-old artist was arrested on June 18 in Sag Harbor, Long Island, after allegedly running a stop sign and veering out of his lane.
The singer entered the Sag Harbor village court late Friday morning to formally enter his plea.
Sentence details
Timberlake ordered to pay fine, complete community service
As part of his sentence, Timberlake was ordered to pay a $500 fine with a $260 surcharge and complete 25 hours of community service at a nonprofit organization of his choice.
Judge Carl Irace expressed hope that these conditions would prove helpful and even gratifying for the singer.
Among those present in the courtroom was Alisa McMorris, whose son was killed by a drunk driver in 2018.
She hoped Timberlake's case would raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving.
Court statement
The singer expressed remorse, acknowledged poor judgment
Surrounded by police officers, journalists, and a crowd of onlookers, Timberlake reportedly expressed remorse for his actions in court.
He stated, "I did not live up to the standards that I try to hold for myself. I should have had better judgment."
He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to move forward and use his platform to help others make better decisions.
Case background
Timberlake's initial plea and arrest details revealed
Initially, Timberlake had pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated (DWI) at a hearing last month.
This plea resulted in the suspension of his driving license.
At the time of his arrest, police noted that Timberlake's eyes were "bloodshot and glassy," he had "slowed speech," was unsteady on his feet, and performed poorly on all sobriety tests.
The Tennessee native told the officer he had consumed one martini and was following friends home.
Public statement
Timberlake urged public to learn from his mistake
Following his court appearance, the singer addressed the public.
He urged everyone to learn from his mistake, stating, "even if you have only one drink, do not get behind the wheel of a car."
"This is a mistake that I made but I am hoping that whoever is watching and listening now can learn from this mistake I certainly have."
"There's so many alternatives. Call a friend. Take an Uber. There's many travel apps. Still take a taxi."
Legal implications
Timberlake's license suspension may impact other states
Timberlake's license suspension in New York could potentially affect his ability to drive in other states, according to legal expert Kenneth Gober, reported The Guardian.
Gober, a managing partner at the law firm Lee, Gober & Reyna in Austin, Texas, explained that refusing a breath test during an arrest leads to an automatic suspension of the driving license under New York state law.
This suspension should then be enforced in other states.