Justin Bieber Pleads Guilty To Assault And Careless Driving In Canadian Incident

Published on June 5, 2015.

Photo By: James Atoa/Everett Collection

Justin Bieber, 21, has worked very hard to make amends for his “bad boy” actions of recent years, however he isn’t quite out of the woods yet.

On Thursday, June 4 Bieber pleaded guilty to an incident that occurred last August when he was visiting his hometown of Stratford, Ontario with his then girlfriend Selena Gomez.

The pop star was driving on an ATV with Gomez as his passenger when he collided with a minivan, which then led to a physical altercation with the paparazzi photographer in the van, leaving Bieber charged with assault and careless driving.

He appeared in court via his lawyer’s skype and refused to speak before being sentenced which ended up being a very minor fine of $750 for the careless driving charge and an absolute discharge on the assault.

According to Bieber’s lawyer Brian Greenspan, the absolute discharge was appropriate because it, “recognized the fact that it was an incident that was somewhat provoked and that it lasted less than a minute. The assault was described even by the photographer as a couple of slaps– certainly three at the most– that he deflected with his shoulder.”

After the sentencing, Justice Kathryn McKerlie offered a bit of additional advice to the star, stating, “the lesson in all of this is to think before you act. Everybody in life, no matter who they are, encounters difficult and disappointing and surprising situations.”