September 13th 2024.
Justin Timberlake, the 43-year-old hitmaker of "Cry Me A River," appeared in court today in New York state to face the consequences of his June arrest for driving while intoxicated. After pleading guilty to the less serious charge of driving while impaired, which is a non-criminal offense, a judge has made a decision about his fate. Timberlake has been ordered to pay a $500 fine plus a $260 surcharge, complete 25 hours of community service, and make a public safety announcement.
His lawyer, Edward Burke Jr., spoke to reporters outside the Sag Harbour courthouse, explaining that his client had only consumed one drink over the course of two hours at the American hotel. He also clarified that Timberlake had not been drinking other people's drinks and was not warned beforehand not to drive. Contrary to some reports, he was not rude or belligerent, but rather polite and respectful to law enforcement during the entire encounter.
Timberlake himself also took the opportunity to address the court and the public, stating that he always tries to hold himself to a high standard. However, he admitted that he did not live up to those standards on this particular occasion. He pleaded guilty to the non-criminal charge and shared a message with everyone watching and listening: never get behind the wheel after consuming even one drink. He emphasized the importance of finding alternative modes of transportation, such as calling a friend, taking an Uber, or a taxi, and expressed his regret for making a mistake and hoping others can learn from it.
The singer expressed his appreciation for the people of Sag Harbour and the strain this situation must have put on them. He thanked everyone involved and closed by saying that we can all do our part to be safer on the roads. According to the Associated Press, Timberlake also acknowledged in court that he did not live up to his own standards and that he should have exercised better judgment.
The Grammy-winner will now have to complete his community service as part of his sentence. Journalists eagerly gathered as the popstar arrived at court, and now the verdict has been given by a judge in Sag Harbor, New York.
The events leading up to Timberlake's arrest began when he was pulled over on June 18 at 12:37 am while driving a BMW. The Sag Harbor Village Police Department reported that officers had seen him fail to stop at a stop sign and maintain his lane of travel. In court documents, an officer noted bloodshot and glassy eyes and a strong odor of alcohol on Timberlake's breath. He also stated that Timberlake exhibited signs of intoxication, including slowed speech, unsteadiness, and poor performance on field sobriety tests. The actor was held overnight and later released.
Initially, Timberlake denied the allegations, and his lawyer, Edward Burke Jr., told People Magazine that his client was not intoxicated and should not have been arrested for DWI. He pointed out that the police had made significant errors in the case, and the district attorney even tried to fix one of those errors in court. However, Burke Jr. remained confident that the charge would ultimately be dismissed.
During a subsequent concert in Boston, Timberlake appeared to make a dig at his arrest, asking the crowd if anyone was driving and then jokingly adding, "No, I'm just kidding." Despite the incident, he is continuing to perform and entertain his fans. If you have a celebrity story or any related content, please get in touch with our entertainment team. We would love to hear from you.
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