D.A. Drops Key Charge Against Alec Baldwin In ‘Rust’ Shooting Case

Alec Baldwin Monday’s legal victory was significant as the Santa Fe County district attorney, New Mexico dropped the gun enhancement charges against the actor in the case regarding the shooting death “Rust” Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer

Baldwin will not be in prison for more than 18 months because the charge was dropped. Even if he is convicted involuntary killing, TMZ reported. Prosecutors must prove that Baldwin used the firearm to intimidate or harm another person in order to convict him of the gun-enhancement charge. 

“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,” Mary Carmack-Altwies, First Judicial District Attorney, is a spokesperson Telled Fox News Digital. “The prosecution’s priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big-city attorneys.”

Fox News reported that Baldwin could have faced five years in prison if convicted of the gun enhancement offense. Baldwin’s lawyers challenged that charge earlier this month, arguing that the charge was unconstitutional. 

“The prosecutors committed a basic legal error by charging Mr. Baldwin under a version of the firearm-enhancement statute that did not exist on the date of the accident,” An official filing was made.

Baldwin was Charge Last month, involuntary manslaughter was charged in relation to the death of Hutchins in Oct 2021. Prosecutors have filed a probable cause statement. Allege Baldwin “drew the revolver from the holster, pointed it at Halyna Hutchins, and fired the weapon.”

Hutchins’s untimely death on the set has been denied by the actor. 

“I feel that someone is responsible for what happened and I can’t say who that is, but I know it’s not me,” Baldwin spoke with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on December 20, 2021. “I might have killed myself if I thought I was responsible, and I don’t say that lightly.”

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is also facing an involuntary death penalty for allegedly handling the guns on set.