Justin Timberlake agrees to ‘lesser’ charge after DWI arrest: ‘He doesn’t want his family to be affected by it’
Justin Timberlake is due at a court hearing tomorrow, Sept. 13. The singer and dad to two sons was arrested this summer in Sag Harbor, N.Y., on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
On June 18, Sag Harbor police pulled the Grammy-winning star over after midnight. Timberlake said he dined with friends before getting into his BMW SUV. While claiming to only have had one martini, the police report included field sobriety notes that contrasted Timberlake’s statements. Timberlake refused additional testing, such as a breathalyzer.
Now, a source close to the matter told People that Justin Timberlake will plead guilty to a lesser charge in order to move on from the event.
“He’s a family man, and this is his focus. He accepted a plea deal because he wants to move on,” the source told People. “The court case has been a distraction. He doesn’t want his family to be affected by it.”
In August, the judge criticized Justin Timberlake’s defense for being “unprepared” for the on-tour singer’s initial court hearing. At the time, Timberlake pleaded not guilty, claiming that he was not intoxicated at the time of his arrest.
The source says that Timberlake opted for a plea deal and has accepted a “lesser charge.”
“It’s not like he’s getting off completely — his license is still suspended,” the source told People. “Jess has not been happy about it. She’s encouraged him to accept the plea deal.”
Justin Timberlake’s wife, Jessica Biel, is shooting a series for Prime Video called “The Better Sister.” Timberlake is in the middle of his Forget Tomorrow World Tour, with plans to perform through June 2025.