Justin Timberlake pleads guilty to impaired driving in New York

SAG HARBOR, N.Y. (AP) – Justin Timberlake pleaded guilty Friday to impaired driving, resolving criminal charges stemming from his June arrest in Hampton, New York.

The boy band singer-solo star and actor appeared in Sag Harbor Village Court to enter a new plea to reduced charges.

The judge sentenced Timberlake to a $500 fine with a $260 surcharge and 25 hours of community service at a nonprofit of his choice.

Timberlake took the stand during the proceedings and issued a statement in which he expressed remorse for his actions. He said he grew up in a small town and appreciated the kind of pressure his arrest had in Sag Harbor. He said he has had a lot of time to reflect on his actions.

“I didn't live up to the standards I try to hold for myself,” he said.

Timberlake said he's “grateful for the opportunity to move forward” and hopes to use his platform to help others make “good decisions.”

“I should have used better judgment,” he told the judge. “I understand the seriousness of it.”

The pop star originally pleaded not guilty to drunken driving and his Driver's license suspended During the hearing last month.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney's office, which is prosecuting the case, declined to comment ahead of the hearing, as did Timberlake's attorney, Edward Burke.

Timberlake was arrested In Sag Harbor, New York, shortly after midnight on June 18, police said he ran a stop sign in the village center, pulled out of his lane and exited his BMW smelling of alcohol.

Police also said in court filings that the 43-year-old Tennessee native's eyes were “bloodshot and glassy” and that he had “slurred speech,” was unsteady on his feet and performed poorly on all sobriety tests.

Timberlake told the officer he had a martini and was at some friends' house, police said.

Sag Harbor is a one-time whaling village featured in Herman Melville's classic novel “Moby-Dick” located in the Hamptons, a seaside community about 100 miles (160 km) east of New York City.

Timberlake's license suspension in New York will likely affect his ability to drive in other states, a legal expert said this week.

Refusing a breathalyzer test, as Timberlake did at the time of his arrest, triggers an automatic suspension of one's license under New York state law, which should later apply in other states, according to Kenneth Gober, a managing partner at the law firm Lee, Gober &. Rena in Austin, Texas.

“Most states participate in the Interstate Driver's License Compact, an agreement to share information about license suspensions and traffic violations,” he explained in an email. “If a license is suspended in one state, it should be suspended in all states.”

In practice, though, such changes can take a long time to be reflected across state lines, Gober acknowledged. The pop star has the resources to easily arrange a driver and doesn't need to drive to work, he added.

Timberlake's agent and other representatives did not respond to emails seeking comment this week.

The 10-time Grammy winner has not publicly addressed the arrest but appeared to acknowledge it days later during a performance in Chicago.

“It's been a tough week,” he said told the audience during the June 21 show at the United Center. But you are here, and I am here. Nothing can change that at this point.”

Timberlake has been on tour for months in support of his latest album. He will return to the New York City area next week with a concert in Newark, New Jersey; and Brooklyn.

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Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo.