Alec Baldwin sends message by skipping first court appearance in fatal 'Rust' shooting: legal expert

A special prosecutor who doubles as a state legislator is stepping down from her role in the manslaughter case against actor Alec Baldwin in the death of a cinematographer on a New Mexico film set.

Alec Baldwin paid tribute to late actor Robert Blake and suggested fans remember his career rather than his "legal entanglements.""Robert Blake has died. I realize that many people have had harsh feelings toward him. His life seemed to involve many dramatic legal entanglements," Baldwin wrote on Instagram Thursday.

Lawyers for Alec Baldwin said the Hollywood actor “wants his day in court” as a preliminary investigation hearing in his involuntary manslaughter case was set for early May. At a virtual hearing on Thursday, 9 March, which Baldwin did not attend, a New Mexico court heard that the firearm that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins had since been destroyed by the state. Baldwin previously pleaded not guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter over the fatal shooting of Ms Hutchins on the Rust movie set in October 2021.

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.

Alec Baldwin's lawyer told a judge Thursday the "30 Rock" actor "wants his day in court," and revealed the gun used in the fatal "Rust" shooting has been destroyed by the state.  Baldwin previously pleaded not guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. He was charged in January, more than a year after the fatal shooting on the "Rust" film set.

Once again, Alec Baldwin will not be showing up at a hearing in the criminal case for the Rust shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins back in October 2021.

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

The district attorney in the "Rust" case is fighting back against Alec Baldwin's request to disqualify the special prosecutor.  Baldwin is facing involuntary manslaughter charges following the death of Halyna Hutchins.The cinematographer died on Oct. 21, 2021 after a gun Baldwin was holding fired in a small church on Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico. Baldwin's legal team had asked to have Republican state Rep.

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.

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has congratulated goalkeeper David de Gea after he registered a record-breaking 181st clean sheet for the club during Sunday's 2-0 Carabao Cup final triumph over Newcastle United at Wembley.

Once again, Alec Baldwin and Rust producers are being taken to court by crew members of the indie Western over the fatal 2021 on-set shooting of cinematographer Haylna Hutchins.

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.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed made her first appearance in court on Friday. Gutierrez-Reed's lawyer did not enter a plea, but requested the former "Rust" armorer be allowed to possess a firearm in her home. Gutierrez-Reed has received threats to her safety since the sheriff's department released private information including her phone number, according to attorney Jason Bowles.The attorney also claimed the armorer has had a stalker.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer who loaded Alec Baldwin’s gun on the set of “Rust,” made her first court appearance Friday in her involuntary manslaughter case. Gutierrez Reed did not enter a plea at the hearing, which was held via Google Meet. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer, of the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, N.M., advised her of her rights and set conditions of her release. At the brief hearing, District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies argued that Gutierrez Reed should not be allowed to possess a gun during the pendency of the case, given the allegation that she had engaged in “sloppy mishandling of firearms.”

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.

In an throughly unsurprising move, Alec Baldwin has officially entered a plea of not guilty today to charges arising out of the fatal shooting  cinematographer Haylna Hutchins on the Rust set in 2021.

plead not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the “Rust” shooting that resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.The actor also waived his first court appearance, which was scheduled to take place on Friday during a pretrial hearing. New Mexico Judge Mary Marlow Sommer has now canceled the Friday hearing.On Monday, New Mexico prosecutors dropped firearm “enhancement” charges against Baldwin and “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reid, a tier above regular manslaughter charge that carries a mandatory minimum of five years.

Alec Baldwin could "roll the dice" and push his case to trial now that he's not facing a mandatory five years behind bars, according to legal experts.  The prosecution dropped the firearms enhancement that had been added to one of Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter charges.The "30 Rock" actor was charged in the alternative with two counts of involuntary manslaughter on Jan. 31 in connection to the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.