Justin Timberlake pleads guilty to impaired driving in June stop in Sag Harbor, saying he made 'mistake'

Ten-time Grammy winner Justin Timberlake, who was arrested and charged with drunken driving in Sag Harbor on June 18, pleaded guilty to driving while impaired Friday, saying he had learned from his "mistake" and urging others to do the same.

Sag Harbor Village Justice Carl Irace sentenced Timberlake to 25 hours of community service for the nonprofit of his choice and ordered him to pay a $500 fine, along with a $260 surcharge. Irace also ordered the musician and actor to issue a public safety announcement. His driver’s license was suspended in New York State for 90 days.

"What I’d like to say to everyone watching and listening, even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car," Timberlake told the media and fans outside the Sag Harbor Municipal Building. "There are so many alternatives. Call a friend, take an Uber, there are many travel apps, take a taxi. This is a mistake that I made but I am hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake.

"I know that I certainly have," Timberlake added.

In court, Timberlake, 43, of Franklin, Tennessee, gave a statement expressing remorse for his actions. He said he grew up in a small town and understood the strain his arrest put on Sag Harbor.

"I should’ve had better judgment," he said to the judge. “I understand the seriousness of this."

Timberlake pleaded not guilty to driving while intoxicated after his arrest but agreed to plead guilty to the lesser, noncriminal charge after negotiations with Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney’s office. Timberlake’s attorney, Edward Burke Jr., praised prosecutors for agreeing to "a fair resolution of the case."

"Today, Mr. Timberlake chose to plead guilty and accept responsibility for driving while his ability was impaired by alcohol," Tierney said in a statement. "We appreciate his willingness to hold himself accountable for his behavior, and for using his platform to increase public awareness about the dangers of drunken driving ... 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."

Timberlake was driving a gray 2025 BMW with Florida plates south on Madison Street at 12:17 a.m. June 18 when he failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection with Jermain Avenue, Sag Harbor police and Suffolk prosecutors said at the time. He also failed to keep right, police said.

His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, he had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, exhibited slowed speech and was unsteady on his feet, police said. The report noted Timberlake "performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests."

Police said Timberlake had trouble speaking while looking for his vehicle registration. He also struggled to complete a "walk and turn" test, turning the wrong way and missing steps, they said. He refused to take a Breathalyzer test.

Timberlake said he had one martini at the American Hotel in Sag Harbor and was following friends home when he was pulled over by police.

Timberlake, wearing a black T-shirt, black cardigan sweater and a pearl necklace, spent part of Friday morning at Burke’s office, which is directly across the street from the municipal building. He was accompanied by his legal team and security guards as he crossed the street and pushed through a mob of reporters, photographers, cameramen and fans to enter the building.

Among those in attendance at Friday’s hearing was Alisa McMorris of Wading River, whose 12-year-old son Andrew McMorris was killed by a drunken driver in Manorville in 2018. She said she believed Timberlake accepted responsibility for his actions.

"As a mom who has lost a child, you want to believe people are good people and I want to give him the opportunity to show us that he is good, and see what he does with this," McMorris said. "Only time will tell with this."

McMorris, who attended the hearing with her daughter Arianna, said she hoped Timberlake would perform some of his community service for the Andrew McMorris Foundation, founded after her son’s death to raise awareness about impaired driving.

"I hope he takes the opportunity to choose a nonprofit that stops drunken and impaired driving," she said. "I was happy to hear him say ‘one drink, don’t get behind the wheel.’ That is a lesson for everyone."