LAST UPDATE | 13 Sep 2024

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE HAS pleaded guilty to impaired driving, resolving the criminal case stemming from his June arrest in New York’s Hamptons on a drunken driving charge.

The NSYNC singer-turned-solo star and actor appeared in Sag Harbor Village Court to enter a new plea to the lesser charge.

The judge sentenced Timberlake to a fine of $500 (€450) with a $260 surcharge (€230), and 25 hours of community service at a non-profit of his choosing.

During the proceedings, Timberlake remained standing throughout and gave a statement in which he expressed remorse for his actions.

He said he grew up in a small town and appreciated the kind of strain his arrest has made on Sag Harbor. He said he has had a lot of time to reflect on his actions.

“I did not live up to the standards that I try to hold for myself,” he said.

Justin Timberlake was arrested in June Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Timberlake said he is “grateful for the opportunity to move forward” and use his platform to hopefully help others make “better decisions”.

“I should’ve had better judgment,” he said to the judge. “I understand the seriousness of this.”

Speaking outside court, Timberlake said he “tries to hold myself to a very high standard and this was not that”.

“I have a platform and so what I’d like to say to everyone listening is, ‘even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car, there’s so many alternatives’.

“This is a mistake that I’ve made, but I’m hoping that whoever is listening right now can learn from this mistake, I know that I certainly have.”

Meanwhile, he thanked everyone involved in the legal process and added: “We can all be more safe out there and I’m going to do my part and I hope that everyone else does their part.”

"This is a mistake that I made."

Justin Timberlake speaks after reaching plea deal in DWI case. pic.twitter.com/8i2w15aL8L

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) September 13, 2024

The pop star originally pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanour charge of driving while intoxicated and had his driving licence suspended during a hearing last month.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney’s office, which is prosecuting the case, declined to comment ahead of the hearing, as did Timberlake’s attorney, Edward Burke.

Timberlake was arrested in Sag Harbor, New York, a little after midnight on 18 June after police said he ran a stop sign in the village centre, veered out of his lane and got out of his BMW smelling of alcohol.

Police in court filings also said the 43-year-old Tennessee native’s eyes were “bloodshot and glassy” and that he had “slowed speech,” was unsteady on his feet and performed poorly on all sobriety tests.

Timberlake told the officer he had had one martini and was following some friends home, police said.

-With additional reporting from Diarmuid Pepper