Alec Baldwin's 'Firearm Enhancement' Carrying 5-Year Prison Sentence Dropped from 'Rust' Shooting Charges

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Alec Baldwin will face a two-week evidentiary hearing in a Santa Fe courtroom in May, as prosecutors seek to show there is enough evidence to try him for the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. At a brief status conference on Thursday, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer scheduled the preliminary hearing to begin on May 3. Baldwin’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, said that the actor “wants his day in court,” and would not agree to delay the hearing much beyond the 60-day statutory deadline. Baldwin and “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed were charged in January with involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.

The gun that killed Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021 has been “destroyed,” a lawyer for Alec Baldwin revealed today.

Alec Baldwin has one less Rust trial to worry about, for now.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The Santa Fe district attorney on Monday defended the appointment of a state lawmaker to prosecute Alec Baldwin in the “Rust” case, saying there is no reason she cannot fulfill both roles. Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed both face involuntary manslaughter charges in the October 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. They are scheduled for a virtual court appearance on Thursday. Baldwin’s lawyers are seeking to disqualify the special prosecutor, Andrea Reeb, arguing that she cannot serve as both a prosecutor and a member of the state Legislature under the separation-of-powers provision of the state constitution.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Three “Rust” crew members sued Alec Baldwin and the film’s producers on Monday, alleging they have suffered anxiety and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the shooting death of the film’s cinematographer. The three crew members were in the church building at the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, N.M., when Baldwin’s gun fired, striking cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and director Joel Souza. Baldwin has denied pulling the trigger, though prosecutors have charged him with involuntarily manslaughter for allegedly firing the weapon while it was pointed at Hutchins. The plaintiffs in the latest suit are Ross Addiego, the dolly operator, Doran Curtin, the set costumer, and Reese Price, the key grip. According to the suit, all three were in close proximity to Baldwin when the gun was fired, and suffered “blast injuries” from the deafening sound of the shot.

Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed will be allowed to have a gun at home, a New Mexico judge ruled today.

The production company behind the film Rust has agreed to pay a fine of 100,000 US dollars to the New Mexico Environment Department’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau (OHSB) following the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on October 21, 2021, The bureau issued a fine of 136,793 US dollars (£104,810) to the production company last April, the maximum allowable by state law in New Mexico. Under the settlement, which is pending approval, the bureau downgraded its claim from “wilful-serious” to a “serious” violation.

Alec Baldwin pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection to the death of Halyna Hutchins on Thursday. Hutchins died on Oct. 21, 2021, after a gun that Baldwin was holding fired on the set of "Rust." The actor also waived his first appearance, which legal experts explained is a "routine court proceeding." "By waiving his first appearance in court, he's sending a signal that this is a case that really ought not be taken seriously, even though it is obviously an extremely serious case.

Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to two charges of involuntary manslaughter over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.The Hollywood actor was due in court on Friday for a first appearance hearing, which would have seen details of the charges and his rights read out by a judge. But Baldwin, 64, entered the pleas on Thursday, waiving his right to a first appearance in court.The actor will next face a preliminary hearing at a date yet to be set, which will determine whether or not the case will go to trial.

, Alec Baldwin and the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, have been criminally charged in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and special prosecutor Andrea Reeb announced on Jan. 19 in a statement that Baldwin, 64, and Gutierrez-Reed were charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Alec Baldwin has formally entered a not guilty plea to a manslaughter charge over his role in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.According to court docs, obtained by ET, the 64-year-old actor waived his right to appear Friday before First Judicial District court Judge Mary Sommer in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, and have his rights explained to him by the judge. Baldwin instead opted to enter his plea Thursday through his attorney, Luke Nikas.Sommer also approved an order setting several conditions for Baldwin's release, including staying out of legal trouble, not possess firearms or dangerous weapons, not consume alcohol, and maintain contact with his attorney.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter, and waived his appearance in court on Friday. Baldwin remains free without having to post a bond. The actor was due to make his first court appearance on Friday via Google Meet, but chose instead to submit his not guilty plea through a court filing. Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted in connection with the death of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The Santa Fe D.A. alleges that he acted with “criminal negligence” when he fired a loaded weapon during preparation for a scene at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in October 2021.

R. Kelly was sentenced on Thursday to 20 years in prison for child pornography and enticement of minors for sex but will serve all but one of those simultaneously with a 30-year sentence on racketeering and sex trafficking convictions.

. Jason Bowles, the armorer's attorney, tells ET, «Hannah is not returning to the filming.»The news that Gutierrez-Reed won't be further involved in comes the month after she and Alec Baldwin were charged with involuntary manslaughter for the 2021 on-set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.Shortly thereafter, Santa Fe prosecutors dropped the firearms enhancement charge against the pair, meaning that they now each face 18 months in jail instead of five years.Baldwin's attorney previously called the charges «a miscarriage of justice,» while Bowles told ET that Gutierrez-Reed «did not commit involuntary manslaughter» and said the charges stemmed from «a very flawed investigation, and an inaccurate understanding of the full facts.»After the charges were filed, Melina Spadone, the attorney for Rust Movie Productions, told ETthat the film would move forward with plans to resume shooting, adding that there will be «on-set safety supervisors and union crew members,» and noting that the production «will bar any use of working weapons or any ammunition.» will not, however, return to New Mexico to complete filming. Yellowstone Film Ranch co-founders Richard Gray, Carter Boehm and Colin Davis told ET that the movie is set to be relocated to the Yellowstone Film Ranch in Paradise Valley, Montana.«The dedication and passion of the entire  production team to honor Halyna’s vision has deeply moved us.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Investigators spent more than a year sorting out blame for the death of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer killed on the set of “Rust.” In the end, two agencies came to two sharply different conclusions about Alec Baldwin’s level of responsibility as a producer of the film. Prosecutors charged Baldwin for firing the gun that killed Hutchins, but also for management failures that created a hazardous set. “We believe Baldwin, as a producer, knows everything that goes on, on the set,” prosecutor Andrea Reeb said on Fox News’ “The Five” last month. “There were a lot of safety concerns that were brought to the attention of management, and he did nothing about it.” 

Alec Baldwin and his legal team didn’t have anything to say Monday when the Santa Fa D.A. dropped a disputed charge in the fatal Rust shooting criminal case that could have seen the actor behind bars for up to five years for the death of cinematographer Haylna Hutchins.

Alec Baldwin in connection to the accidental shooting of a Rust crew member have been downgraded.In October 2021, while filming the movie on location, Baldwin was holding a Colt .45-caliber pistol that fired a live round, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.Baldwin and the movie’s armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, were then both charged with involuntary manslaughter last month following the tragic incident.Per The Hollywood Reporter, the involuntary manslaughter charge remains against the pair, but The Santa Fe District Attorney has now removed a firearm enhancement from a second charge, meaning that a potential five-year prison sentence for Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed is now no longer possible.If found guilty of the involuntary manslaughter charge, the pair face a maximum of 18 months in prison.Discussing the reason for the change in charges, New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney spokesperson Heather Brewer said (via THR): “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.“The prosecution’s priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big-city attorneys.”Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyer Jason Bowles added that he “applaud[s] the decision by the District Attorney and it was the right call, ethically, and on the merits.”In November of 2022, Alec Baldwin filed a lawsuit for negligence and indemnification against a number of Rust crew members including Gutierrez-Reed, weapons and rounds supplier Seth Kenney, first assistant director David Halls and property master Sarah Zachry.

Alec Baldwin is now facing significantly reduced prison time over the death of  cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. On Monday, ET confirmed that Santa Fe prosecutors are dropping the firearms enhancement charge against the actor. Now, Baldwin faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter for the shooting, which has a lesser prison sentence of 18 months, rather than five years in jail.  armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed had the firearms enhancement charge dropped as well and faces the same sentence. «In order to avoid further litigious distractions by Mr.

Wow! Alec Baldwin really has been saved by his legal team.

Though still facing  involuntary manslaughter charges, Alec Baldwin will not longer have to fear a five year prison sentence for the fatal shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.