Justin Timberlake Pleads Guilty to Lesser Charge in Sag Harbor

Justin Timberlake, 43, pleaded guilty in Sag Harbor Village Justice Court on Friday, September 13, to a violation charge of driving with ability impaired by alcohol. He had been facing a criminal charge of misdemeanor DWI after his arrest on June 18 by Sag Harbor Village Police.

The pop star was allowed to plead to the lesser charge, which leaves him without a criminal record, in a deal worked out between the district attorney’s office and his attorney, Edward Burke Jr. of Sag Harbor.

As part of the plea deal, after leaving the courtroom, Timberlake addressed the public through the crush of media assembled in the parking lot outside police headquarters on Division Street on the dangers of drinking and driving.

He also was fined $500 by Justice Carl Irace, plus an additional $260 in court fees. Irace also suspended Timberlake’s driving license in New York State for 90 days. That 90-day suspension will run concurrently with a one-year suspension by the Department of Motor Vehicles for Timberlake’s refusal to take a breath test after his June 18 arrest.

Irace made it clear from the bench before Timberlake entered his guilty plea that he was not happy with the proposed disposition by the prosecution. Patrick O’Connell, who heads District Attorney Ray Tierney’s East End Bureau, defended the proposal in a back and forth with Irace as the session began.

Irace said he had previously been led to believe that Timberlake was going to participate in a videoed Public Service Announcement about the dangers of drinking and driving after entering his guilty plea, not simply a statement at a press conference.

“Have you reviewed that statement?” Irace asked. O’Connell indicated he had.

“Does everybody also charged with DWI also get this disposition?” Irace responded. “I don’t think this happens typically.”

Irace asked O’Connell how he intended to get Timberlake’s message out to the broader public. O’Connell responded that his office had received more media inquiries about the Timberlake case than the ongoing Gilgo Beach serial killer case.

The Timberlake court session late Friday morning was sandwiched into a busy court calendar and courtroom. Twenty reporters had been allowed into the courtroom. Many times that number of reporters, plus fans of Timberlake, curiosity seekers, and paparazzi packed Main Street outside the Municipal Building.

Irace concluded his discussion with O’Connell, acknowledging that “The court does not have the authority to reject this disposition.”

Irace then turned his attention to Timberlake, telling him that he wanted him to do additional community service time, past speaking to the public, totaling between 25 and 40 hours.

At that point, Irace had a long discussion with Timberlake, who was under oath. Timberlake expressed great remorse for having made what he called a wrong decision. He said that going forward, he wanted to use his experience to help people of all ages understand the dangers of drinking and driving.

“I grew up in a small town,” Timberlake said, expressing regret for the stress his arrest, and the media storm that followed, had brought to Sag Harbor Village. Timberlake promised that he would never return to the circumstances he had put himself in.

“Sag Harbor is a great place,” Irace responded, “Come on back!”

Timberlake smiled.

Irace, clearly moved by Timberlake’s sincerity, set the number of community hours to be served at 25. Irace told Timberlake that he could choose the charity to be served.

As he does to all defendants after he sets a fine, Irace asked Burke if Timberlake need time to pay. Burke said the fine would be paid that day.

Timberlake was then escorted across the bridge that connects the court to police headquarters, the same bridge he had crossed June 18, in handcuffs, following his arrest. He went outside police headquarters to the parking lot, where he spoke to a crowd.

“Many of you have probably been covering me for a lot of my life,” he began. “As you may know, I try to hold myself to a very high standard. And this was not that.”

“What I would like to say to everyone listening: If you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car.”

When he was finished speaking, Burke and Timberlake and a small entourage of perhaps three got into a large limousine with heavily tinted windows, which pulled out of the lot onto Division Street and drove off.