Justin Timberlake Pleads Guilty To DWAI, Gets Community Service, PSA

SAG HARBOR, NY — Sag Harbor was filled with media and onlookers Friday as pop star Justin Timberlake made his first appearance at Sag Harbor Village Justice court, just feet away from The American Hotel, where he was last seen with friends before a DWI arrest in June.

Timberlake entered a plea deal Friday, pleading guilty to driving while ability impaired, an infraction; the prosecution said the pop star would be making a public safety announcement against driving while intoxicated that would have a worldwide impact.

Sag Harbor Village Justice Carl Irace, who said he felt the disposition presented by the prosecution wasn't weighty enough, also ordered Timberlake to perform 25 hours of community service to a non-profit organization of his choice — he has one year to complete those hours — and pay a $500 fine. He will lose his license for 90 days in New York because he refused to take a breathalyzer test, officials said.

Irace had questions about the PSA, asking how it would work. When told that it would be taped outside the courthouse, Irace had reservations, and said he had thought the PSA would be created in the traditional sense, filmed and shared many times on various channels.

As proposed, Irace said the PSA was a "statement on the sidewalk at the court," something he felt was "unsatisfying"

The prosecution reminded that every detail of the case had reached an international audience and that any video shared by the media and on social media, taped on Friday at the court, would have that same stratospheric, wide-ranging impact.

"We've received more inquiries about this case than the Gilgo serial murders," the assistant district attorney said.

Irace said he did believe raising awareness was "absolutely critical" and he commended Timberlake for wanting to do so through his platform.

He added, though, that he felt there were other sentencing components lacking; he would have liked to see some focus on the "rehabilitation" component, and also said he believed community service ends up being rewarding because an individual has the time for reflection and contemplation, important to prevent against recidivism, Irace said.

"It can be gratifying," Irace said. "It's one of those things where you get out of it, what you put into it."

When determining the number of community service hours, Irace said his decision would be made after Timberlake's statement.

At the proceedings, Timberlake expressed remorse, saying he made a poor decision that night. "Even if have you have one drink, don't get behind the wheel," he said, suggesting people take a taxi or a rideshare or call a friend.

He said he, too, comes from a small town and understands the strain the proceedings had taken on the Sag Harbor community.

He said since he was a boy, he's held himself to a "very high standard. This was not that. I found myself in a position where I could have made a different decision, but I'd have some time to reflect on that. This was a mistake that I made. But I'm hoping that whoever is watching or listening can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have."

He said he was grateful and understood the seriousness of what might have transpired, and looked forward to using his platform internationally to spread the word and raise awareness about not drinking and driving.

Irace said he heard Timberlake's sincerity. "I believe you," he said.

Timberlake, both in the court and addressing the media, said he was grateful. "I'm going to do my part. I hope that everyone else does their part."

Timberlake's attorney Edward Burke Jr. also spoke. He said in the past he has said, "My client was not driving intoxicated."

After much discussion and a thorough review of the evidence, Burke said, "Today the district attorney's office correctly agreed to not move forward with that charge. The evidence revealed that my client finished the contents of one drink in two hours at The American Hotel."

Contrary to what some outlets reported, Burke said, he "wasn't drinking other people's drinks, or warned in advance not to drive. He wasn't rude. He wasn't obnoxious. He wasn't belligerent. In fact, he was polite. He was cooperative and he was respectful during his entire encounter with law enforcement, as they were to him."

The plea "to a reduced and amended non-criminal charge, a traffic violation, is consistent with these facts and full acceptance of responsibility for them," Burke said.

Burke said the case unfolded right across the street from his office – The American Hotel and Sag Harbor justice court are a short geographic distance away . "But I believe we'll have a message that will travel long distances and extend far and wide. Because it's that message coming from Justin himself, of what's in his head and in his heart."

Alisa McMorris, who lost her son Andrew, a Boy Scout out on a hike with his troop, to a drunk driver in 2018, attended with her daughter Arianna — and, representing Mothers Against Drunk Driving, also spoke from the heart.

McMorris said, "This judge made me happy. He understood the gravity of the situation." Her daughter has to live a life without her brother, she and her husband John have to live a life without their son, she said. "The number of killings we see on these roads today," she said.

McMorris said she was "cautious" heading to court, unsure of what Timberlake would say. "But I believed him [Timberlake] in the courtroom. I believed that he made a sincere effort and I applaud him and I am really grateful that there's at least 25 hours of community service. And I hope he chooses to do it in drunk driving awareness. We want to see a decrease in recidivism. We want to see the people that get into the car understand the gravity of their situation."

Her son, she said, loved music and singing. "What I want to say to Justin is, 'Andrew can no longer sing and dance. He played ukelele and the guitar and did all these beautiful things. And I need Justin to sing for him," she said, her voice breaking. "I need him to speak for him."

In a nod to a popular Timberlake song, she said,"Let's bring sober back."

"Today, Mr. Timberlake chose to plead guilty and accept responsibility for driving while his ability was impaired by alcohol," said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. "We appreciate his willingness to hold himself accountable for his behavior, and for using his platform to increase public awareness about the dangers of drunk driving. As previously stated, Mr. Timberlake received the same treatment as any other defendant. Justice should be applied equally to all individuals, regardless of their wealth or celebrity status. Drunk and drugged driving is an extremely serious nationwide public safety issue. These drivers threaten the lives of random and innocent roadway users of every age, gender, ethnicity, and economic status. In 2024, with the prevalence and convenience of public transit and ride-shares, there is no excuse to get behind the wheel when you are impaired in any way."

According to a Sag Harbor Village Police representative, Timberlake, 43, was arrested in the "early morning hours" on June 18 on a misdemeanor DWI charge and was arraigned.

Sag Harbor police said that at 12:37 a.m. Timberlake, of Tennessee, was seen driving a 2025 BMW southbound on Madison Street and failing to stop at a duly posted stop sign, as well as failing to maintain his lane of travel.

A Sag Harbor Village police officer initiated a traffic stop and, upon investigation, determined that Timberlake was driving while intoxicated. He was placed under arrest, processed, and held overnight for morning arraignment, police said, the same protocol as in any other DWI arrest.
Timberlake was arraigned at Sag Harbor Village Justice Court and released on his own recognizance, police said.

Timberlake's previous court date in August was adjourned; also in August, his license was suspended at a virtual arraignment, according to NBC.

Timberlake's attorney Burke Jr. had requested a new arraignment date in relation to the pop star's DWI arrest in Sag Harbor, moving to have the case dismissed on a technicality — and has also said that the performer was not intoxicated and should not have been arrested.

He later dropped that motion to dismiss, according to reports.

Burke Jr. appeared at the first court date in Sag Harbor Justice Court without Timberlake, who was, according to his world tour schedule, slated to perform in Poland on that July date.

Timberlake had a new, virtual arraignment date on Friday, August 2, justice court representatives told Patch. He participated in the court proceedings virtually that day.

Burke had initially filed a motion to have the case dismissed "on an insufficient accusatory instrument" — because the original charging document did not have a sergeant's signature, he said.

Burke issued a statement after he was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Sag Harbor.

Burke told Patch that Timberlake was initially charged with a single count of DWI, a misdemeanor; he refused to take a breathalyzer test, he said. He was also charged with vehicle and traffic violations after failure to stopping at the stop sign and stay in his lane of travel, Burke said.

Timberlake was released without bail, Burke said.

Court documents revealed Timberlake told police: "I had one martini and I followed my friends home."

A representative for Timberlake could not immediately be reached.

Timberlake is currently in the midst of the Forget Tomorrow World Tour; the 55-plus city tour has sold over one million tickets so far across the more than 85 performances. On Sept. 28, he is scheduled to appear at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.