Alec Baldwin has notched a significant legal victory ahead of his manslaughter trial.
The Santa Fe County District Attorney's Office told the New York Post it filed paperwork to drop a firearm enhancement charge on one of the two manslaughter charges against the “30 Rock” star.
The decision comes after lawyers for Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer who supervised Baldwin's gun, filed a motion that prosecutors incorrectly charged the defendants under a state law that passed after Halyna Hutchins' death on the set of the movie “Rust.”
With the changes to the original charges, Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed face a maximum sentence of 18 months, a dramatic reduction from a possible five-year prison sentence.
The Hollywood Reporter continues:
“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,” Heather Brewer, spokesperson for the New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney, said in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. “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.” THR has reached out to Baldwin's legal representation for comment.
Charges were formally filed against Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed on Jan. 31, more than a year after Hutchins was fatally shot on the Rust movie set by a gun that discharged a live round while in the hand of producer-actor Baldwin. That followed Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announcing criminal charges against the two on Jan. 19. Neither were arrested.
“Rust” will resume production this spring with a mix of new and old crew members.
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It sure looks and smells like a double-tiered system of justice. If you or I had killed a poor woman, we’d disappear inside the Big House and they would throw away the key. But a goon either liberal or of color can kill anyone and be let off the hook. Am I right? Justitia’s blindfold has a peephole in it and oft she drops her sword to put her thumb on the scales.
A millionaire movie star can afford the best lawyers.
I totally agree with you! It is so sickening to see what has happened to this Country in just 2 short years!
ignorance of gun safety is no excuse you never point a gun at anybody and pull the Triger this appears that it was not done in filming just horsing around
It wasn’t involved manslaughter it was reckless homicide and deserving of a much stiffer penalty.
As much as I dislike this person, Alex Baldwin, I really don’t believe that he meant to kill her.
I din’t like him denying that he shot the gun and giving all the newspapers his opinion.
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……. Heavens we wouldnt want any further distractions by Mr Baldwin who killed a young woman and mother heaven help us no lets not inconvenience Mr Baldwin!