Alec Baldwin Criminal Charge Dropped In “Rust” Shooting, Faces Reduced Prison Sentence

Alec Baldwin will no longer face the firearms enhancement charge that could have resulted in a mandatory five-year prison sentence if convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer who was shot dead on the set of “Rust” in October, according to People.

Baldwin still faces the involuntary manslaughter charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 18 months.

Former “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who is facing the same charge, also had the firearms enhancement charge against her dropped.

This does not mean that legal powers that be have intention of taking it easy on Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed.

If anything, their stance on these proceedings seems increasingly belligerent.

The decision was made to “avoid further litigious distractions” by Baldwin and his attorneys, according to the Santa Fe District Attorney’s Office.

The spokesperson for the office stated that the “prosecution’s priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big-city attorneys.”

Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed were both previously charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter related to the incident. Additionally, Halyna’s family has filed a civil lawsuit against Baldwin.