‘Disappointing’: Justin Timberlake sentenced
A glum Justin Timberlake has spoken outside court after his conviction for a late night driving offence where he refused to be breathalysed.
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An ashen faced Justin Timberlake has apologised outside a New York court and said he “made a mistake” after he was convicted of a driving offence.
“I did not live up to the standard I hold myself to,” he told a judge in Long Island, near New York City, as he faced the music after he was pulled over in June and arrested for drunk driving.
But it was almost a surprise he wasn’t beaming because despite Timberlake potentially being up for jail time, the NSYNC singer got off relatively lightly with a tiny fine and a few hours’ community service.
A police report said that in the town of Sag Harbor, in the ritzy Hamptons, on June 18, Timberlake allegedly swerved to the wrong side of the road twice, failed to halt at a stop sign, refused to take a breathalyser test three times and was “glassy eyed”.
After the incident, he was kept overnight in a Long Island police station.
On Friday, the singer, 43, made a deal that saw him plead guilty to a lesser charge of driving while ability impaired, reported People magazine. The non criminal offence avoids any possibility of jail time.
His lawyers have argued that he wasn’t drunk at the time and had only a single drink over two hours at a restaurant.
However Timberlake “performed poorly on all standardised field sobriety tests,” the police documents stated.
Addressing Sag Harbor Justice Carl Irace, Timberlake said that he tried to hold himself to the “highest standard possible,” and since his arrest had “found myself in a position of disappointment”.
“I’d like to take a moment to show gratitude to everybody involved,” he said and that he understood “the strain this can put” on a local community.
However Justice Irace pushed the singer to reveal what his “intent” was in driving late at night after a social occasion given he had no need to drive and could have got have got a cab or other ride.
“I found myself in a position where I should’ve taken a moment,” Timberlake told the judge.
“I should’ve had better judgment. I understand and appreciate the seriousness of this.”
“I believe you,” Justice Irace said.
People reported that Timberlake was fined $US500 ($745) and has to pay a surcharge on top of that of $US260 ($400). He will also have to make a public service announcement about the dangers of driving while impaired – which he immediately did outside court – complete 35 hours of community service and his driving licence will be suspended for three months.
Apology
Outside court Timberlake, wearing a grey cardigan, khaki pants and a pearl necklace, spoke to press and made a public apology.
“What I like to say to everyone watching and listening, even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car. There’s so many alternatives. Call a friend. Take an Uber. Take a taxi.”
“This is a mistake that I made, but I’m hoping that whoever’s watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake,” he said.
“And I’m going to do my part. I hope that everyone else does their part. And thank you very much.”
A source of Timberlake’s told People: “He’s a family man, and this is his focus. He accepted a plea deal because he wants to move on”.
“The court case has been a distraction. He doesn’t want his family to be affected by it.”
Originally published as ‘Disappointing’: Justin Timberlake sentenced
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