Prosecutors are falling against Alec Baldwin for filming ‘Rust’ that would have jailed him for FIVE years – and now the actor may not have to spend time behind bars
Prosecutors have dropped key charges against Alec Baldwin that would have jailed him for five years after he shot and killed “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
The Santa Fe County Attorney’s Office has dropped a weapon enhancement charge against the actor – meaning that even if he is convicted of involuntary manslaughter, he will not be allowed to serve time behind bars.
An attorney on behalf of Baldwin filed a motion to convict prosecutors for prosecuting the actor under a law that didn’t apply to him last week.
The involuntary manslaughter charge was originally filed with the weapons enhancement charge, but the Santa Fe Attorney’s Office confirmed to on Friday that it was removed.
The charge requires the person who used the gun to “brand” the gun, meaning the gun was pointed with the intent to intimidate or hurt a person.
The Santa Fe County Attorney’s Office has dropped the weapons enhancement charges against Baldwin
At the time of filming, Baldwin was on set filming for Rust, meaning the charges are unlikely to conform to New Mexico law.
However, a new change in the law means panning is no longer required – a change that came seven months after the fatal incident.
The Santa Fe District Attorney said in a statement, “In order to avoid further contentious distractions by Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys, the District Attorney and the Special Attorney removed the firearms amplification to the involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the film set ‘Rust.’
“The priority of the prosecution is to ensure justice, not to ensure billable hours for city attorneys.”