Justin Timberlake's cushy community service assignment revealed as singer pleads guilty in DWI case

LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: Justin Timberlake, who entered a guilty plea after being arrested for driving while intoxicated, was handed a community service sentence on Friday, September 13.

The 'Mirrors' hitmaker will be performing his 25 hours of court-mandated community service inside the cozy walls of the court system itself, rather than picking up trash along the Long Island Expressway, as reported by the New York Post. 

Timberlake and his attorney, Edward Burke Jr, were seen pulling up to the Sag Harbor Village Justice Court on Friday to appear before Justice Carl Irace.

Justin Timberlake will push documents in DWI case's community service sentence

The 43-year-old was taken into custody on June 18 in Sag Harbor, about 100 miles east of New York City, after the police observed him weaving between lanes and running a stop sign in his BMW. 

In an August virtual court appearance, Timberlake entered a not-guilty plea, leading the judge to issue an order suspending the singer's New York state driver's license.

Timberlake, however, received a community service term and an order to make a public statement from Sag Harbor Village Justice Court judge Irace after entering a guilty plea to a minor offense of driving while alcohol-impaired. 

A person close to the singer's legal team stated that the 'Suit and Tie' star shouldn't be bothered cleaning jury room floors and courthouse toilets.

"He would be doing stuff like sorting documents [for the court clerk], organizing files," added the source.

The insider added that the 'SexyBack' crooner was keen to get a deal done before his forthcoming Canadian tour dates next month.

They clarified, "With a felony conviction on his record, Canada wouldn’t have let him in. He wouldn’t be allowed into a lot of other countries, too, but he makes big money in Canada."

The source called the case "weak," adding that local prosecutors were considering taking a plea. The informant claimed, "There was no blood evidence, and he refused the Breathalyzer." 

Moreover, they emphasized that the prosecution did not want to depend on "observational testimony" from "a rookie cop who didn’t even know who the guy was."

According to the tipster, Timberlake even got the last say about where he works, indicating that it would probably be in his native Tennessee, New York, or California.

Justin Timberlake will probably need to pay a $300–$500 fine 

Justin Timberlake entered a guilty plea to a lower charge of driving while alcohol-impaired on Friday in Sag Harbor Village Court as opposed to the more serious charge of driving while intoxicated, which is a felony.

In addition to the community service sentence and authoring a public service announcement, he will need to pay a modest fine.

Such "impaired" driving is not considered drunk driving, and Timberlake will probably be subject to a $300–$500 fine in addition to a 90-day license suspension for the infraction, as per the New York Post.

According to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, the pop star has not been getting special treatment, adding that a similar plea agreement "happens in a number of cases."

"But we certainly don’t want to treat people worse for the same reason. So we’re taking pains to make sure that we’re treating this case like any other case of its kind," added Tierney.

Following the hearing, Timberlake told the media, "I try to hold myself to a very high standard, for myself, and this was not that."

He added, "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. There’s many travel apps. Still, take a taxi. This is a mistake that I made, but I’m hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have."

Netizens puzzled by Justin Timberlake's cozy community service sentence

The Internet appeared unamused over the singer's community service sentence, and many took to social media platforms to express how Justin Timberlake's treatment differs from common people.

One wrote, "Normal folk would have faced license suspension, surcharges, mandatory treatment programs and possibly a breathalyzer attached to their ignition. Only famous people and illegal immigrants get these rulings."

Another added, "Let's see, I had fines of over $1,200, 12 month suspension of license, had to go Behavioral specialist for 12 Weeks, costing an additional $1,500. #celebritytreatment."

"Justin Timberlake getting only 25 hours of community service doesn't even surprised me! When I was doing my community service all the poc had over 30 DAYS of community service while the yt folks had 1 day or 2 tops," chimed in a person.

Someone else remarked, "$500 and community service? People spend their lives in jail for this. White & class privilege at it’s finest."

"I’m screaming, he got off scott free lmfaoooo. The power of celebrity," wrote one more, alluding to the privileged life of a celebrity. "Community service w Justin Timberlake is crazy," exclaimed another person. 

An individual added, "Such a slap on the wrist. If it were any of us non-celebrity folk we would be in jail." "He should be made to pay a fine more proportional to his income," expressed one. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.