Justin Bieber ‘Doing OK,’ Gets Valentine’s Day Arraignment Date For DUI Charges
Justin Bieber is said to “Doing OK right now” amid news of his Valentine’s Day arraignment court date in South Florida and the resulting media firestorm after his Miami DUI arrest.
At the February 14 arraignment, which the 19-year-old has the option to attend or not, a plea will be entered by the defense when prosecutors formally file charges of DUI, resisting arrest without violence, and driving with an expired license.
“Justin doesn’t have to be there,” Ed Griffith, a Miami state attorney’s office spokesman, told People. “He will plead non guilty and the process will begin.”
The arraignment begins at 9.00 am in front of judge William Altfield, Mail Online reveals. The date was moved from January 26.
Bieber’s defense attorney is the renowned Roy Black.
The “Baby” singer was arrested just after 4 am Thursday, January 23, in Miami Beach after police reportedly tailed his yellow Lamborghini and his pal, R&B singer Khalil Amir Sharieff’s red Ferrari for reportedly 15 blocks. The pair were stopped in a residential street during what police describe as an illegal street drag race.
Surveillance video obtained by CBS4 in Miami reveals a different tale to the 55 mph-60 mph police estimated the cars were doing.
According to TMZ, both drivers briefly exceeded the 30 mph limit but were clocking 27 mph when police stopped them during the so-called drag race.
Police say the teen star was “belligerent” and swore repeatedly when he was asked put his hands on the car and submit to a pat down and failed a field sobriety test.
Cops allege before his arrest, Bieber admitted to smoking marijuana, drinking one beer, and taking a prescription medicatio.
Developments within the case show two breath tests taken by Justin revealed blood alcohol readings of 0.014 and 0.011.
Both figures are below the legal limit of 0.02 for under 21’s in Florida. By the time of Bieber’s arraignment, further drug test results should be ready and may be able to reveal if the singer was high on other substances.
TMZ reports Khalil’s breath test readings were both.0.00.
Bieber fled to Panama after his arrest, where he was joined by his manager Scooter Braun, mentor Usher, other friends, model Chantal Jeffries – who rode in the Lamborghini on the night of the DUI arrest – and reportedly, his mother Pattie Mallette.
Notably, Lucian Grainge, head of Universal Music Group recently told New York Daily News Confidenti@l at the labels’ Grammy awards aftershow party that he was deeply concerned about Bieber.
“He needs help. He needs an intervention. We are going to give all the support as a company to take as much pressure off him so he can look forward. Hopefully, we will all get through to him,” Grainge said.
It is not yet known if the Panama summit was a prelude to an intervention or the real thing.
Since Bieber’s DUI arrest, over 78,000 Americans have signed a petition asking President Obama to deport the superstar back to his native Canada.
The deadline for the 100,000 signatures threshold that prompts a White House response is February 22.. From the numbers so far, it’s well on track to surpass that.
Meanwhile the teen star and Braun have now left Panama and are on a plane bound for for Los Angeles, E! News reports.
Citing a source, the outlet said Bieber isn’t buckling under the negative media focus.
“Justin is doing OK right now,” the insider told E! News. “He’s with friends and family. That’s what is most important now, being surrounded by family and his closest friends.”
Bieber sent a trio of tweets from the plane, announcing that his “Confident” music video – which features Chance The Rapper and is a cut on his latest Journals album – will drop on Wednesday.
It’s not yet known if the music video below filmed extra scenes or an entirely new song.
Up in the air
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) January 28, 2014
@MTV back to the music
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) January 28, 2014
#confidentvideo tomorrow
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) January 28, 2014
Bieber was filmed shooting a music video in Panama on the beach.
