Alec Baldwin was on a scheduled arraignment for new charges related to the tragic 2021 shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. This actor, previously charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the case, entered a plea of not guilty in response to these fresh charges, as reported by CBS News.
On Wednesday, the 65-year-old Baldwin formally submitted his plea while also waiving his right to a traditional arraignment, as indicated in New Mexico court documents. If convicted of these charges, Baldwin could potentially face a prison term ranging from 18 months to three years.
The decision to re-charge Baldwin came from a New Mexico grand jury on January 19, a full year after he had initially been charged concerning Hutchins’ tragic death. While the initial charges had been dropped in April 2023, they were never entirely dismissed by prosecutors.
The fatal incident occurred during the filming of the movie in 2021 when a prop gun mistakenly contained live ammunition instead of the intended blanks. This horrifying mistake led to the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and left director Joel Souza injured.
Baldwin has consistently maintained that he was unaware of the live round inside the firearm and has asserted that he did not pull the trigger. According to court documents, Baldwin has been released on his recognizance.
While he is permitted to continue promoting the movie Rust, he has been instructed not to discuss the accident with anyone involved in the production who may potentially serve as a witness or the alleged victim(s).