As expected, Alec Baldwin has officially pleaded not guilty to his charges related to the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of indie film Rust in October 2021, Deadline reports.
Baldwin and on-set armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed were both charged with involuntary manslaughter last month. The Santa Fe District Attorney had initially added a firearm enhancement to his charge, but that was dropped earlier this week after Baldwin's legal team filed a motion pointing to an amendment to the law — which formerly only applied if the weapon was "brandished" — having not come into effect until seven months after Hutchins was killed.
The first hearing in the case was set to take place in New Mexico tomorrow (February 24), but based on Baldwin's plea entry, Judge Mary Marlow Sommer has cancelled the court session.
"I hereby certify that I have explained to Mr. Baldwin his right to personally appear before the District Court to enter a plea of Not Guilty and to have his rights explained to him by the judge and I am satisfied that Mr. Baldwin understands the waiver of these rights," reads the paperwork submitted by Baldwin's lead attorney Luke Nikas.
If found guilty at trial, the Emmy-winning actor now faces a maximum of 18 months in prison and some fines, unless a deal is struck beforehand. Baldwin will be expected to appear at a preliminary hearing within two months of entering his plea.
Both starring and produced by Baldwin, Rust is set to resume filming in Montana this spring, while Hutchins's parents and sister filed a new lawsuit against the actor earlier this month. Last year, he had reached a settlement with the late cinematographer's husband, Matthew Hutchins, who will now serve as the film's executive producer — but there's "been no settlement" for her family, as per their lawyer.
Baldwin and on-set armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed were both charged with involuntary manslaughter last month. The Santa Fe District Attorney had initially added a firearm enhancement to his charge, but that was dropped earlier this week after Baldwin's legal team filed a motion pointing to an amendment to the law — which formerly only applied if the weapon was "brandished" — having not come into effect until seven months after Hutchins was killed.
The first hearing in the case was set to take place in New Mexico tomorrow (February 24), but based on Baldwin's plea entry, Judge Mary Marlow Sommer has cancelled the court session.
"I hereby certify that I have explained to Mr. Baldwin his right to personally appear before the District Court to enter a plea of Not Guilty and to have his rights explained to him by the judge and I am satisfied that Mr. Baldwin understands the waiver of these rights," reads the paperwork submitted by Baldwin's lead attorney Luke Nikas.
If found guilty at trial, the Emmy-winning actor now faces a maximum of 18 months in prison and some fines, unless a deal is struck beforehand. Baldwin will be expected to appear at a preliminary hearing within two months of entering his plea.
Both starring and produced by Baldwin, Rust is set to resume filming in Montana this spring, while Hutchins's parents and sister filed a new lawsuit against the actor earlier this month. Last year, he had reached a settlement with the late cinematographer's husband, Matthew Hutchins, who will now serve as the film's executive producer — but there's "been no settlement" for her family, as per their lawyer.
