Justin Timberlake has been having a rough couple of months following his DWI arrest in June, but he’s trying to move forward with his life. On Friday, the pop superstar pleaded guilty to a less serious charge after being pulled over by police in Long Island, New York.
As part of a plea deal he struck with Judge Carl Irace, Timberlake’s initial charge was reduced from driving while intoxicated to the noncriminal traffic violation of “driving while ability impaired.” According to CBS News, he’ll now have to pay a $500 fine and a $260 surcharge, plus perform 25 to 40 hours of community service.
The agreement also required him to issue a public safety announcement, which he dutifully did shortly after his court appearance. “I try to hold myself to a very high standard, for myself,” Timberland told reporters, reiterating his apology in the courtroom. “And this was not that. I found myself in a position where I could have made a different decision.”
“This is a mistake that I made,” he continued, “but I’m hoping that whoever’s watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have. … Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car.”
The latest development in the case marks an end to the legal drama that started earlier this summer, when police pulled over the former NSYNC member after he ran a stop sign in the Hamptons. According to NBC News, his lawyer said the singer had one drink in two hours while out with friends, but law enforcement reported that Timberlake had “bloodshot” eyes and refused to do a Breathalyzer test not just once but three times.
On the advice of his lawyer, Timberlake initially pleaded not guilty to a DWI charge, but an unnamed source close to the situation told People that the star changed his mind so he could put the incident behind him.
“He’s a family man, and this is his focus. He accepted a plea deal because he wants to move on,” they told the publication. “The court case has been a distraction. He doesn’t want his family to be affected by it.”
Despite his fears that it would “ruin” his world tour, the singer’s shows have continued mostly without interruption — and according to his website, he is now officially planning to make stops in Chile, Denmark, and many more countries.
