Pop star Justin Timberlake has been sentenced to community service after pleading guilty to a charge of driving while alcohol impaired. The 43-year-old entertainer was arrested on June 18 in Sag Harbor, New York, after running a stop sign and struggling to maintain his lane, according to police reports.
Sag Harbor Village Justice Court judge Carl Irace handed Timberlake the sentence, which includes between 25 and 40 hours of community service. Timberlake has also been ordered to issue a public statement. “Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car,” Timberlake said outside the court. “There are so many alternatives.”
The police report detailed the singer’s condition at the time of the arrest, noting that Timberlake had “bloodshot and glassy eyes” and showed signs of impairment during field sobriety tests. Timberlake admitted that he had only one martini earlier that evening but acknowledged he should have made a better decision.
Timberlake’s lawyer, Edward Burke Jr., emphasized that the singer cooperated fully with police during the incident. “Contrary to reports, he wasn’t rude or belligerent. He was polite and respectful throughout the encounter,” Burke said.
The singer’s plea to the lesser charge, a traffic violation, resulted in a 90-day license suspension and a fine ranging from $300 to $500.
