Crime & Safety
Justin Timberlake 'Not Intoxicated' In Hamptons DWI Bust, Lawyer Says
Justin Timberlake's attorney has moved that the case be dismissed, maintains his client wasn't intoxicated and shouldn't have been arrested.
![Justin Timberlake's new arraignment date is set for next week, court officials told Patch.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/1296254/20240726/014255/styles/patch_image/public/timberlake-mugshot-1___26133424153.jpg)
SAG HARBOR, NY — Justin Timberlake's lawyer has requested a new arraignment date in relation to the pop star's DWI arrest in Sag Harbor, moving to have the case dismissed on a techicality — and has also said that the performer was not intoxicated and should not have been arrested.
Attorney Edward Burke Jr. appeared at a hearing in Sag Harbor Justice Court Friday without Timberlake, who was, according to his world tour schedule, slated to perform in Poland on July 26.
Timberlake will have a new, virtual arraignment date on August 2 at 9:30 a.m., justice court representatives told Patch.
Find out what's happening in Southamptonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Burke filed a motion to have the case dismissed "on an insufficient accusatory instrument" — because the original charging document did not have a sergeant's signature, he said.
In a statement, the District Attorney's office said: "Following the arrest of Justin Timberlake, the District Attorney’s Office located a ministerial error in the original accusatory instrument. Thereafter, on July 2, 2024, an amended accusatory instrument was filed correcting that error. The facts and circumstance of the case have not been changed or amended."
Find out what's happening in Southamptonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The DA's office added: "We stand ready to litigate the underlying facts of this case in court, rather than in the press."
In a statement, Burke said: "The most important fact to know about this case is that Justin was not intoxicated and should not have been arrested for DWI. The police made a number of very significant errors in this case.In court today, you heard the district attorney try to fix one of those errors. But that’s just one, and there are many others. Sometimes the police make mistakes and this is just one of those instances. Justin respects law enforcement and the very important job that they do. He cooperated with the police officers at all times and treated them with the respect they deserve. He also respects the entire judicial process including the District Attorney and judge who were in court today."
According to a Sag Harbor Village Police representative, Timberlake, 43, was arrested in the "early morning hours" on June 18 on the DWI charge and was arraigned.
Sag Harbor police said that at 12:37 a.m. Timberlake, of Tennessee, was seen driving a 2025 BMW southbound on Madison Street and failing to stop at a duly posted stop sign, as well as failing to maintain his lane of travel.
A Sag Harbor Village police officer initiated a traffic stop and, upon investigation, determined that Timberlake was driving while intoxicated. He was placed under arrest, processed, and held overnight for morning arraignment, police said, the same protocol as in any other DWI arrest.
Timberlake was arraigned at Sag Harbor Village Justice Court and released on his own recognizance, police said.
Burke issued a statement after he was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Sag Harbor.
"I look forward to vigorously defending Mr. Timberlake on these allegations," said Burke. "I will have a lot to say at the appropriate time but am currently awaiting full discovery from the District Attorney’s office."
Police released a mug shot taken of Timberlake after he was arrested on a driving while intoxicated charge in Sag Harbor — and was held in custody overnight.
Burke told Patch that Timberlake was charged with a single count of DWI, a misdemeanor; he refused to take a breathalyzer test, he said. He was also charged with vehicle and traffic violations after failure to stopping at the stop sign and stay in his lane of travel, Burke said.
Timberlake pleaded not guilty, he confirmed. "There was no accident," Burke said. "No one was hurt."
Timberlake was released without bail, Burke said.
A report by PIX11 as well as a number of media outlets said that court documents revealed Timberlake told police: "I had one martini and I followed my friends home."
The New York Post reported that the criminal complaint said, of Timberlake: "His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath, he was unable to divide attention, he had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot, and he performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests."
NBC reported that Timberlake had dined at the iconic American Hotel and was headed to a friend's house when he was pulled over by police. The identity of that friend has not yet been disclosed.
A representative for Timberlake could not immediately be reached.
Meanwhile, fans have shown their love at various tour dates and Timberlake has expressed his gratitude.
A video from a fan's TikTok account showed pop star Timberlake facing the crowd at a Chicago concert soon after his arrest: "We've been together through ups and downs and lefts and rights," he said. "It's been a tough week, but you're here, and I'm here and nothing can change this moment. I know sometimes I'm hard to love, but you keep on loving me and I love you right back." He blew a kiss to his fans.
Timberlake is currently in the midst of the Forget Tomorrow World Tour; the 55-plus city tour has sold over one million tickets so far across the more than 85 performances. He is slated to continue with the European leg of the tour through October, when he is scheduled to appear at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.