Justin Timberlake Still Needs To Finish Community Service After DWAI Plea Following Hamptons Arrest: Lawyer

SAG HARBOR, NY — Justin Timberlake is still wowing crowds on his world tour, with dates scheduled through July, according to his tour schedule. But despite a judge's orders that he must perform 25 hours of community service after a Sag Harbor DWI arrest in June last year, the pop star has not yet made his decision on what non-profit to choose, his attorney said.

Timberlake entered a plea deal in September, 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.

On Tuesday, Timberlake's attorney Eddie Burke Jr. told Patch that Timberlake had until mid-September to complete his community service hours. And when asked if Timberlake had decided where to perform those hours, he responded, "Not yet."

Last fall, on social media, a bevy of Long Island non-profits suggested that they'd welcome Timberlake with open arms.

Keith Caputo of Helping Makes U Happy in Center Moriches — the organization helps those in need in the community — wrote on Facebook: "I’d be happy to have Justin Timberlake do his 25 hrs of community service with Helping Makes U Happy."

Alisa McMorris, who lost her son Andrew after a drunk driver crashed into his Boy Scout troop, out on a hike, spoke outside Timberlake's sentencing and wrote on social media: "We hope Justin will choose a drunk driving awareness non-profit."

"Justin Timberlake is welcome to work at the office in respect to Pet4luv toward his 25 hours of volunteer community service. Please DM," the East Village Green Animal Hospital in Levittown wrote on Facebook.

Last September, Sag Harbor Village Justice Carl Irace, who said he felt the disposition presented by the prosecution wasn't weighty enough, ordered Timberlake to perform the 25 hours of community service to a non-profit organization of his choice — noting he had one year to complete those hours — and pay a $500 fine. He was also slated to 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 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."

McMorris, who lost her son Andrew, a Boy Scout out on a hike with his troop, to a drunk driver in 2018, attended the court appearance 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."

"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 at the time. "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, 2024 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.

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.

Timberlake is currently in the midst of the Forget Tomorrow World Tour; he is slated to perform in Poland Wednesday and has dates scheduled in the Netherlands, England, Ireland, the UK, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Romania, France and others before the tour wraps up on July 30 in Turkey.