Justin Timberlake pleads guilty to lesser charge of drunk driving

Justin Timberlake pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of driving under the influence in a plea deal with Suffolk County, New York, prosecutors in connection with an incident earlier this year.

Sag Harbor County Judge Carl Irace sentenced Timberlake to 25 to 40 hours of community service, ordered the pop star to deliver a public safety warning and pay a $500 fine.

The defense and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office agreed with the judge’s sentence.

Stay up to date with the news with the 7NEWS app: download today

The community service can be performed at a nonprofit organization of Timberlake’s choosing and must be completed within one year.

When the judge asked Timberlake if he would be willing to accept these terms, he replied, “I would be honored to do so.”

Timberlake entered the courthouse shortly after 11 a.m. wearing a black shirt, brown pants and a pearl necklace, surrounded by security and his attorney. The pop star did not answer any questions.

At his last court appearance in August, Timberlake pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence. If convicted, he could have faced up to a year in prison and a $2,500 fine.

In New York, a blood alcohol content of more than 0.05 is “legal evidence that you are under the influence,” while “a BAC of 0.08 or higher is evidence of intoxication,” according to the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

Timberlake was arrested in Sag Harbor in June after he left The American Hotel bar shortly after midnight, drove his 2025 BMW down Main Street, ran a stop sign and failed to stay in his lane, according to police.

Police also said Timberlake failed a field sobriety test and repeatedly refused to submit to a breath test, saying, “No, I’m not going to take a chemical test.”

Timberlake’s attorney later disputed that the performer was intoxicated and argued that he should not have been arrested.

He has been performing all summer on his Forget Tomorrow Tour, with his next show scheduled for September 28th in New Jersey.