98 Degrees Singer Off Legal Hot Seat

Thu., Sep. 28, 2006 8:55 AM PDT by Gina Serpe

A former member of 98 Degrees fought the law. Let's call it a draw.

Jeff Timmons, the band mate without the famous ex-wife, the reality show dancing championship or the long-shot mayoral campaign, has pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors stemming from a traffic stop last spring.

The 33-year-old "I Do" singer copped to one charge of reckless driving and refusing to sign a citation during his Apr. 23 arrest in Cocoa Beach, Florida, and agreed to serve one year's probation.

In addition, the one time boy-bander must undergo treatment for alcohol and substance abuse and serve 50 hours of community service.

"In light of the facts, we consider the negotiated plea of reckless driving to be a fair resolution in this case," Timmons attorney Michael Donnelly said.

The misdemeanors are a downgrade from the initial charges Timmons faced of driving under the influence and driving without a license. He pleaded no contest to the lesser charges in order to avoid going to trial.

Florida Assistant State Attorney Michelle Perlman told the Associated Press that the initial charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence, for which Timmons can thank himself.

"Mr. Timmons refused all physical testing--breath or blood or urine," Perlman said.

Timmons was pulled over just outside Cape Canaveral last April when his white Mercedes was clocked going 60 mph in a 45-mph zone on his way home from a celebrity--well, semi-celebrity, anyway--softball game.

According to the police report, Timmons told the officers that he'd had "a lot" to drink, and quickly rescinded that claim to say he'd actually "only had two beers." When he refused to take a videotaped field sobriety test, the sheriff's deputies placed him under arrest.

Timmons was held on $500 bond and released later that day, at which point his lawyer, Donald W. Wruck III, attempted to clear things up, saying "the incident is the result of a misunderstanding and that Jeff will ultimately be cleared of all charges."

He was half right.

Timmons, meanwhile, is currently in Los Angeles working on the follow-up album to his 2004 solo debut, Whisper That Way, tentatively slated for a 2007 release.