BREAKING NEWS: Alec Baldwin pleads not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Rust shooting as he waives his first court appearance
- Baldwin was due to appear virtually before a judge tomorrow but the hearing has now been canceled
- He pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter through his attorney today
- Baldwin is facing 18 months in prison if convicted; a gun enhancement that would have jailed him for five years has been dropped
Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the shooting of Halyna Hutchins and waived his first appearance.
The actor was due to appear before a judge virtually tomorrow but the hearing has now been canceled.
A preliminary hearing is yet to be scheduled, but is likely to take place by the end of April.
Alec Baldwin (pictured today) has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the shooting of Halyna Hutchins and waived his first appearance.
Court documents obtained by DailyMail.com show Baldwin’s attorneys check the ‘not guilty’ box when asked how he will plead.
These are the terms of Baldwin’s release. Prosecutors in New Mexico never sought to place him in custody
Court documents obtained by DailyMail.com show Baldwin’s attorneys check the ‘not guilty’ box when asked how he will plead.
He had been facing five years in prison on a gun enhancement to the charge, but that was dropped.
Now, the actor faces a maximum of 18 months behind bars. Under the terms set by a judge, Baldwin must not drink alcohol or possess firearms.
There is no restriction on his travel, but he must stay in contact with his attorney.
Baldwin shot and killed Hutchins accidentally in October 2021 while filming Rust on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The movie will resume production in Montana in the spring, shooting at the Yellowstone Film Ranch.
Baldwin will remain in the lead role and will also serve as a producer.
He has always maintained he did not pull the trigger, and that the gun fired spontaneously. He insists it was the armorer’s responsibility to ensure the gun was safe before handing it to him.
Prosecutors in New Mexico and the FBI however say it would have been impossible for the gun to fire without him pulling the trigger.
They say he had been seen pulling the trigger on the same gun in earlier rehearsals and practices.
Baldwin has already settled a civil lawsuit brought by Halyna’s widower, Matthew.
Her family in Ukraine are also now suing him separately.