The criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, in the fatal shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, have been downgraded. The move has reduced the possible prison five-year prison sentence for the two.
Alec Baldwin and ‘Rust’ Armorer’s firearm enhancement charges dropped with removal of five-year prison sentence
According to The Hollywood Reporter, on Friday, the Santa Fe District Attorney formally downgraded the second of two charges, which included a firearm enhancement. That charge, lawyers for Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed argued in a motion filed earlier this month, was based on New Mexico law that passed following Halyna Hutchins’ death on the Bonanza Creek Ranch set in October 2021.
“In order to avoid further litigious distractions by Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys, the District Attorney and the special prosecutor have removed the firearm enhancement to the involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the Rust film set,” spokesperson for the New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney said in a statement. “The prosecution’s priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big-city attorneys.”
In response, Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyer Jason Bowles said in a statement that the armorer’s legal team “applaud(s) the decision by the District Attorney and it was the right call, ethically, and on the merits.” Meanwhile, Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed both still face an involuntary manslaughter charge that comes with a maximum of 18 months in prison.
Both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed were formerly charged on January 31, over a year after Hutchins was fatally shot on set. The gun, that discharged the live round, was held by film’s producer and actor Baldwin.
Also Read: Alec Baldwin faces gun charges for a law that wasn’t passed at the time of the Rust shooting
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