Alec Baldwin Pleads Not Guilty to New Rust Charges

Baldwin is again facing criminal charges related to the fatal ‘Rust’ shooting in 2021 after they were previously dismissed in April 2023.

Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to a new manslaughter charge in connection with the fatal 2021. rust shooting.

Baldwin, 65, entered the guilty plea Wednesday as he waived his right to press charges, according to New Mexico court documents. He filed the documents in Santa Fe District Court a day before the scheduled hearing. after a New Mexico grand jury indicted him for a second time in connection with the Jan. 19 shooting.

According to court documents, Baldwin was released on personal recognizance. As part of his release conditions, Baldwin must obey all local, state and federal laws, must not possess a firearm or dangerous weapon, must not consume drugs or alcohol, and must not leave the country without written permission from the court.

The court allowed him to advance rust but may not discuss the accident with anyone on the production who may testify or with the alleged victim(s).

The actor was previously charged with manslaughter in January 2023 before his case was delayed when the charges were dropped three months later; he now faces charges of involuntary manslaughter (negligent use of a firearm) or, alternatively, involuntary manslaughter (without due care or caution).

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Alec Baldwin.

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Baldwin could face up to 18 months in prison if convicted of this new charge, according to New Mexico law. The actor’s attorneys Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel previously said, “We look forward to our day in court,” in response to his January 19 indictment.

In 2021, the actor held a prop on the set of the upcoming western rust when it discharged, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin has repeatedly claimed he didn’t know the gun had mistakenly contained a live round, and has also claimed he didn’t pull the trigger.

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SAG-AFTRA has publicly defended Baldwin following the latest indictment against him.

“To the extent that the charges brought on January 19 are based on a charge of negligent use of a firearm based on the fact that this or any other actor has a duty to inspect a firearm as part of its use, that is a miscalculation of the actor’s actual duties on set “, the union shared in a statement released on Thursday.

“It is not an actor’s job to be an expert on firearms or weapons,” the statement added. “Firearms are available for use on set under the guidance of multiple professional experts who are directly responsible for the safe and accurate operation of that firearm.”

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Alec Baldwin.

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Hutchins’ family attorney Gloria Allred offered a response to SAG-AFTRA’s statement last Thursday, saying the idea that the actor was not responsible for firing a gun on the film set “defies common sense and the law.”

“Security protocols can be considered at trial, but they are not law,” she said in a statement. “This indictment is the result of a careful evaluation of all the facts and the law by a grand jury. It is important to respect the grand jury’s indictment decision and allow the criminal justice system to proceed to trial where the case will be decided on its merits.”

Besides Baldwin, rust The gunman on the set, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was also previously charged with manslaughter. She pleaded not guilty in August, and her trial is scheduled to begin in February.

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Source: HIS Education