Justin Timberlake Likely to Plead Guilty to Reduced Charge in DWI Case

On September 11, singer and actor Justin Timberlake is set to plead guilty to a traffic offense in order to resolve the drunk driving case filed against him in Sag Harbor, New York.

Timberlake’s attorney, Edward Burke Jr., alongside prosecutors, has secured approval from the judge overseeing the case to allow him to plead guilty to a lesser misdemeanor driving offense. This arrangement will lead to the dismissal of the more serious driving while intoxicated (DWI) charge in Suffolk County, New York.

A court hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. EDT on Friday in Sag Harbor, where Timberlake will likely enter his guilty plea to the offense of driving while ability impaired. This information has been reported by CBS News, ABC News, and TMZ.

The potential penalties for this misdemeanor offense range from $300 to $500. However, the plea deal will not restore Timberlake’s driving privileges in New York. His driving license was suspended on August 2 after he reportedly refused to take a breathalyzer test when stopped by a local officer in June.

It’s important to note that Timberlake is licensed to drive in a different state, meaning that his suspension applies solely within New York.

The incident that led to Timberlake’s arrest began when he left the American Hotel. He allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign and swerved into oncoming traffic. A local police officer initiated a stop due to these erratic driving behaviors.

During the traffic stop, the officer detected the smell of alcohol on Timberlake’s breath, which ultimately led to his arrest.

The criminal complaint filed against Timberlake describes his physical state at the time of the arrest. He was noted to have bloodshot and glassy eyes, slurred speech, and appeared unsteady while standing. Furthermore, he did not perform well on a field sobriety test.

In his defense, Timberlake reportedly told the officer that he had consumed only one drink prior to being stopped.

Despite the ongoing legal situation, Timberlake has continued to perform as part of his musical tour, “The Forget Tomorrow World Tour.”