Justin Timberlake Admits to Drunken Driving and Avoids Jail Time as Judge Accepts Plea Deal

Justin Timberlake admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol in a Long Island courtroom on Friday morning while appearing before a judge, who accepted his guilty plea as part of a deal that lessened his punishment and allowed the pop star to avoid any more jail time. 

Though the actor and pop sensation initially pled not guilty, his now guilty plea to a lesser charge will result in him committing to 25 hours of community service at a nonprofit of his choosing, paying a $500 penalty and recording a public service announcement. Additionally, his New York State driver’s license will be suspended for 90 days.

“I should’ve had better judgment,” Timberlake, standing throughout the proceedings, told Judge Carl Irac, according to a report from The Associated Press. “I understand the seriousness of this.”

During the hearing at the Sag Harbor courtroom, Timberlake told Judge Irac that with “the utmost honesty I won’t be back here again.” The multi-platinum-selling singer then joked that he did not like the town of Sag Harbor, which he says he loves, as TMZ reported. He has had time to reflect on his actions since his June arrest; he told the judge that he didn’t live up to his own personal standards, the outlet reports. 

In court, the judge thanked Timberlake for his statements and for speaking from the heart.

Timberlake spoke to the gathered press outside the courtroom on Friday morning to express his regrets for the incident and asked others not to make the same mistake.

“I try to hold myself to a very high standard. 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,” Timberlake 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. There are many travel apps … take a taxi. 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.”

Timberlake repeated his statement in court about growing up in a small town like Sag Harbor, so he understands the impact of his actions, before concluding with an apology to all involved in his crime.

“I just want to say to everyone who’ve 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 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,” he said. “And thank you very much.”

On June 18, Timberlake was arrested just after midnight. Officers reported that he ran a stop sign in the village center and then veered out of his lane; when he got out of his BMW, he smelled of alcohol, police said.

Judge Irac was disappointed with the proposed plea deal the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office put forward, according to the AP, questioning the time Timberlake had to reflect on his actions before a public announcement was issued. This was why, he said, he added the community service requirement to Timberlake’s sentence.

The original Driving While Intoxicated misdemeanor carried a maximum of one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.