Justin Timberlake: Pop star pleads guilty

Justin Timberlake (43) got off lightly after being arrested in June. The singer pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol after a plea deal in court. Timberlake was therefore given a relatively lenient sentence, as US media unanimously report.

“Even if you’ve only had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel”

Timberlake was sentenced by the judge in Sag Harbor, New York, to 25 hours of community service, which he must complete within a year at a non-profit organization. The singer must also pay a fine of 500 US dollars and is prohibited from driving in the state for 90 days – starting Friday. Timberlake must also make a public statement on the matter, which the pop star did immediately after the court hearing.

He sets very high standards for himself, but that was not the case here, Timberlake explained to the assembled press: “I found myself in a situation where I could have made a different decision, but I had some time to think about it.” What he wanted to say to everyone watching was: “Even if you’ve only 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 lots of travel apps, take a taxi. That’s a mistake I made, but I hope that everyone watching and listening can learn from that mistake. I know that I certainly did that.” With the statement, he fulfilled one of the obligations imposed by the judge.

It had previously been reported that Timberlake had agreed to a deal. Timberlake was therefore convicted of driving while impaired – a lesser offense – instead of drunk driving. The singer was briefly arrested in June after he failed to stop at a stop sign, according to police. He also failed to stay in his lane. Timberlake is also said to have spoken slowly and was unsteady on his feet, among other things.