Justin Timberlake appeared in court on Friday in connection with his June arrest for drunk driving.
The former *NSYNC star pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was ordered to perform 25 to 40 hours of community service.
Timberlake reached a plea deal with prosecutors before the hearing. Details of the deal were not disclosed, but a person familiar with the transaction said Timberlake agreed to plead guilty to a lesser charge of “driving while ability impaired,” a traffic offense that carries a fine of $300 to $500 and a 90-day license suspension.
Justin Timberlake expected to accept plea deal in DUI case
Justin Timberlake arrived at the Sag Harbor courthouse on September 13. (Reuters/Eduardo Munoz)
Timberlake appeared in court wearing dark sunglasses and a two-strand pearl necklace. The musician was accompanied by an entourage that included his lawyer, Ed Burke Jr., a bodyguard and music manager Johnny Wright.
Justin Timberlake was arrested in June on suspicion of drunk driving. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
When stopped by authorities on the morning of June 18, Timberlake “failed all standard field sobriety tests,” the arresting officer claimed in documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
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Justin Timberlake's arrest photo taken at the Sag Harbor Police Department. (Sag Harbor Police Department)
The lawsuit says Timberlake's eyes were “bloodshot and shiny,” he had a “strong odor of alcoholic beverages on his breath” and “had difficulty distributing his attention.” The “Cry Me a River” singer also “spoke slowly” and “was unsteady on his gait.”
Ed Burke Jr. Timberlake's Lawyerhad previously claimed police made “serious errors” during the musician's arrest in June.
WATCH: Justin Timberlake Driving in the Hamptons Before Being Arrested for DUI
“The most important fact in this case is that Justin was not intoxicated and should not have been arrested for DUI,” Burke said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “The police made a number of very serious mistakes in this case, and in court today you will hear the District Attorney attempt to correct one of those mistakes, but that is just one example, and there are many more. Police make mistakes sometimes, and this is just one example.”
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Timberlake initially The District Attorney's Office confirmed to Fox News Digital that he was charged with one count of DUI, as well as failing to keep to the right of the road and failing to stop.
According to documents, the pop star told the arresting officer he had had one martini and was following some friends home. After being arrested and taken to the East Hampton police station, he refused a breath test, court documents state, and his occupation was listed as “professional” and “self-employed.”
Justin Timberlake continues to tour amid his legal battle. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Children's Hospital Los Angeles via Getty Images)
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) denounced Timberlake's plea deal.
“MADD does not support plea bargains in DUI cases because we believe justice should be fully served for such serious crimes,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement. “Drinking and driving is a dangerous, reckless choice that puts lives at risk, and the consequences should reflect the seriousness of that decision. Plea bargains downplay the seriousness of DUI, a violent crime that kills and injures thousands each year.”
“MADD has urged Timberlake to use his important platform to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving and take the right action to prevent this crime,” the statement continued. “Despite reports that Timberlake will be collaborating with MADD to create a PSA, the organization has not received any formal communication from his representatives. MADD will continue to advocate for justice and accountability in all drunk driving cases, and we hope that Timberlake's future decision reflects the seriousness of this issue and contributes meaningfully to our work.”
Justin Timberlake appears on stage for his “Forget The World Tomorrow” tour. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images, courtesy of Live Nation)
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Timberlake spoke out just days after he was arrested for DUI at the Chicago stop of his “Forget the World Tomorrow Tour.”
“It's been a rough week,” the 10-time Grammy Award-winning singer told fans at the United Center during his first performance since his arrest. “I know I'm a hard person to love, but you all continue to love me.”
The “Bye Bye Bye” singer came under fire earlier this year for what Britney Spears wrote about their relationship in her memoir, with the pop star claiming the former couple had an abortion and referencing Timberlake's infamous “Cry Me a River” music video, which featured an actress who looked like Spears.
Spears claimed that the media had portrayed her as “a whore who broke the heart of America's golden boy.”
Timberlake took to the stage shortly thereafter and appeared to respond to Spears, saying, “I don't want to take this opportunity to apologize to anybody, ever.”
The Associated Press and Ashley Papa contributed to this report.
