Alec Baldwin has been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western movie Rust in 2021- as announced by the Santa Fe County district attorney, Mary Carmack-Altwies. Rust prop armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed is also being charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. The film’s first assistant director David Halls has also agreed to a plea deal to plead guilty to a charge of negligence in the use of a deadly weapon, accepting six months probation and a suspended sentence.
“The first charge can be referred to simply as involuntary manslaughter. For this charge to be proved there must be underlying negligence. Under New Mexico law, involuntary manslaughter is a fourth-degree felony and is punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine. This charge also includes the misdemeanor charge of negligent use of a firearm, which would likely merge as a matter of law.
“The other charge is involuntary manslaughter in the commission of a lawful act. This charge requires proof that there was more than simple negligence involved in a death. This is also a fourth-degree felony punishable by up to 18 months in jail and up to a $5,000 fine. This charge includes a firearm enhancement, or added mandatory penalty because a firearm was involved. The firearm enhancement makes the crime punishable by a mandatory five years in jail.”
