Alec Baldwin isn’t off the hook in the “Rust” killing of cinemaographer Halyna Hutchins.
But the worst charges against him have been dropped by the Santa Fe District Attorney. The firearm enhancement part of involuntary manslaughter is gone for him and for Hannah Guitierrez Reed. They’re still accused of involuntary manslaughter, but the jail time for that would be 18 months, not 5 years.
“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. “The prosecution’s priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big-city attorneys.”
Baldwin’s first date in Santa Fe court remains February 24th. Among the state’s listed witnesses is Matthew Hutchins, widower of Halyna, who already settled with Baldwin out of court. If “Rust” resumes shooting, er, filming, Hutchins would serve as an executive producer.
