According to new court filings, the prosecution of a fatal New Mexico film set shooting made a dramatic turnaround Monday, dropping the possibility of a mandatory five-year sentence against Alec Baldwin.
Attorneys for the actor-producer had previously objected to the enhancement, claiming it was unconstitutional because it was added after the October 2021 shoot. Legal experts predicted that Baldwin’s case would be dismissed.
“The prosecutors made a fundamental legal error in charging Mr. Baldwin under a version of the firearm-enhancement statute that did not exist on the date of the accident,” Baldwin’s attorneys stated in an earlier court filing.
Baldwin’s lawyer declined to comment Monday following the reversal by prosecutors, who had previously criticized his efforts to have the sentencing dropped. The related standard for the possibility of a mandatory five-year sentence would be a reckless disregard for safety “without due caution and circumspection,” with a higher level of wrongdoing.
Under New Mexico law, the remaining alternative standard and set of penalties in the case now require proof of negligence, which is punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x209:751x211)/alec-baldwin-hayla-hutchins-ee3965d3fda5484f9918e4864b46dca2.jpg)
Baldwin And The Weapons Supervisor Have Been Charged
In an email earlier this month, Heather Brewer, a New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney’s Office spokesperson, stated that the prosecution’s focus “will remain on ensuring that justice is served and that everyone — even celebrities with attorneys — is held accountable under the law.”
Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s weapons supervisor, was charged last month with felony involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Halyna Hutchins, who died shortly after being injured during rehearsals at a ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe.
Baldwin allegedly pointed a pistol at Hutchins when the gun went off, killing her and injuring director Joel Souza.
Hutchins’ parents and sister have filed a lawsuit following the settlement of a similar suit filed by her husband and son.
The Shooting Has Stopped Production Indefinitely
The shooting has halted production, which is expected to resume this spring. According to Rust Movie Productions, Hutchins’ widower, Matthew Hutchins, will be the film’s new executive producer, with Blanca Cline as the new cinematographer.
Rust Movie Productions announced last week that a related documentary would detail the film’s completion and Halyna Hutchins’ life.
When production resumes, Souza will return as director, though it is still being determined in what state the filming will take place.
Officials from Rust Movie Productions stated that “working weapons” and “any form of ammunition” will be prohibited on the set.
SOURCE – (AP)
