The Post Millennial reports that charges against Alec Baldwin and Rust set armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
The potential five-year prison sentence for each is no longer on the table. Alec Baldwin can start to find some relief from the charges that he otherwise would have been facing down as he looks at reduced charges.
Santa Fe District Attorneys Office officially down grounded the second of two charges against the two. This included the firearms enhancement to the charges that made them more severe regarding the potential penalties. This is based on reporting from the Hollywood Reporter.
Lawyers for both defendants argued that this charge was based on a law passed after the 2021 death of Hutchins and that it is not appropriate to apply to their case.
Both defendants are facing involuntary manslaughter charges, but getting rid of the firearms enhancement part of this charge means they wont have to deal with the possibility of having a five-year prison sentence hanging over their heads.
Heather Brewer, the spokesperson for the New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney, released a statement to the Hollywood Reporter that read:
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.
She added the following:
The prosecutions priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big-city attorneys.
Jason Bowles, a lawyer for Gutierrez-Reed, said that they are pleased with the decision of the District Attorney and believe that it is the right call from an ethical and moral standpoint. He feels that it is only fair for his clients that they have to combat charges based on what the law was at the time that the alleged offenses took place, anyway.
On January 31st, the pair were formally charged in the shooting death of their colleague. However, the worst penalties they might face have been significantly reduced.
New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies released a statement announcing her intent in this case, saying:
A thorough review of the evidence and the laws of the state of New Mexico determined sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and other members of the Rust film crew.
Therefore, she will not pursue those involved with this shooting to the fullest extent of the law.
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