Justin Bieber gets plea deal in Miami Beach DUI case

Justin Bieber pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of careless driving and resisting arrest seven months after his arrest in Miami Beach following what police initially called an illegal street drag race.

The singer’s plea deal with prosecutors, detailed at a court hearing, includes a 12-hour anger management course, a $50,000 charitable contribution and fines.

The deal allows Justin Bieber, 20, to avoid a DUI conviction.

Justin Bieber was not present at the hearing before Miami-Dade County Judge William Altfield. Defense attorney Mark Shapiro said Justin Bieber had already given the $50,000 to a local children’s charity.

The singer was arrested early January 23 in Miami Beach after what police described as an illegal street race between Justin Bieber’s rented Lamborghini and a Ferrari driven by R&B singer Khalil Amir Sharieff. Neither was charged with drag racing and there was little evidence they were even exceeding posted speed limits. Alcohol breath tests found Justin Bieber’s level below the 0.02 limit for underage drivers, but urine tests showed the presence of marijuana and the anti-anxiety drug Xanax in his system.

Justin Bieber was also charged with resisting arrest after a profanity-laced tirade against police officers, as well as driving on an expired license.