Justin Bieber has reportedly agreed a plea deal in his Miami DUI case and will plead guilty to reckless driving. The star will also pay a fine and attend anger management classes, but will not be placed on probation or have to film an anti-drug PSA.
Justin Bieber’s long awaited plea deal in his Miami DUI case has reportedly now finally been agreed, after a judge backed down over a demand for the singer to film an anti-drug public service announcement (PSA).
Bieber was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence just after 4 am on January 23 on a residential street in Miami Beach, Florida, while driving a rented yellow Lamborghini.
His co-arrestee, pal and R&B singer Khalil Amir Sharieff drove a red Ferrari. Both were 19 at the time.
After failing a field sobriety test, Justin was arrested on suspicion of DUI in a reportedly F-bomb laden scenario and taken to Miami Beach Police station with Sharieff for further tests, processing and booking.
The Canadian star pleaded not guilty to charges of DUI, resisting arrest without violence and driving without a valid license on January 29.
A trial had been scheduled for July 7 after the date was shifted from May 5 at the request of Bieber’s Miami legal team, led by famed criminal defense attorney Roy Black.
Black previously said his team needed more time to process evidence and work out how to proceed in the case. At the time, many thought the move was a staller to hammer out a plea deal with prosecutors.
Citing unidentified sources close to the case, TMZ reports Bieber will plead guilty to reckless driving while the other two charges will be dismissed as part of the plea deal agreement.
Reportedly, the “ Baby ” singer will also pay a fine and attend anger management classes but will not be placed on probation .
The non-probation component is something of a win for Bieber’s team, as likely failure of this could have seen the heartthrob tread Lindsay Lohan’s repeat cycle of relapse/probation.
Toxicology results based on Bieber’s urine test at the Miami police station revealed he tested positive for T.H.C. — the active ingredient in marijuana — and the anti-anxiety drug Xanax.
Bieber’s DUI plea deal is expected to be entered into court in two weeks time.
TMZ reports there were two main reasons for heel dragging in the case. Firstly, the judge’s initial demand that Bieber “produce, star in and pay for an anti-drug PSA.” Reportedly, both Black and the prosecution “felt it was inappropriate” and the judge “eventually backed down.”
It’s claimed prosecutors wanted Bieber to enrol in a drug/alcohol education course , but his legal team felt this was unnecessary and akin to saying the singer has a substance abuse problem.
An anger management course is the medium.
( Photo: via Instagram, Bieber with Khalil Sharieff, DUI co-arrestee, pal and singer .)
Miami, like most states typically offers plea deals to first time offenders, but other reasons for the settlement could be reported weaknesses in the DUI case.
Bieber’s Breathalyzer results – 0.011 and 0.014 – contradicted arresting officers’ statements that he appeared intoxicated with and stank of alcohol. Both values are below Florida’s 0.02 legal limit for drivers under 21.
It was also stated Bieber and Sharieff were taking part in an illegal street drag race, assisted by members of Justin’s crew.
However, analysis of GPS devices fitted in both cars reportedly indicated the pair’s speeds at the time police spotted them ruled out drag racing.
Khalil is reportedly set to cut the same plea deal as Justin but without the anger management classes condition.
When settlement terms are completed the reckless driving conviction will be wiped from both young men’s records.
News of Bieber’s DUI plea deal comes after the Los Angeles District Attorney rejected filing a felony attempted robbery charge against the singer yesterday, after an unidentified woman claimed he took her cellphone last month in Los Angeles.
According to reports , investigators interviewed nine employees at the arcade complex where the alleged incident arose, but not one saw any sign of a physical altercation between Bieber and the female accuser.
For his part, Bieber posted four, apparently reflective photos to his Instagram account early Friday morning.
One of which is captioned, “Dear lord.”
[ Images via Justin Bieber Instagram .]