Alec Baldwin pleads not guilty to involuntary manslaughter; waives his first court appearance

Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin, who has been making headlines in Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ death trial, has reportedly pleaded not guilty via court filing ahead of Friday's scheduled virtual hearing.

The move has also waived his appearance in court. According to Variety, the actor was due to make his first court appearance on Friday via Google Meet, but chose instead to submit his not guilty plea through a court filing. The Santa Fe D.A. alleges that he acted with “criminal negligence” when he fired a loaded weapon during preparation for a Rust movie scene at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in October 2021.

Meanwhile, Baldwin – who faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted in Hutchins’ death – has consistently denied the allegations. Both Baldwin and Rust’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed were formerly charged on January 31, over a year after Hutchins was fatally shot on set. The gun, that discharged the live round, was held by film’s producer and actor Baldwin.

As per the report, Gutierrez Reed will make her first court appearance on Friday. She is accused of involuntary manslaughter for her negligence in loading the gun with a live round. Baldwin’s recent plea also comes less than a week after the Santa Fe County District Attorney downgraded charges against him and Gutierrez-Reed which reduced the possible prison five-year prison sentence for the two.

Speaking of the film Rust, Baldwin is headed to Montana to wrap the film production, which has been suspended since the shooting. As Variety suggests, the producers announced a settlement in October with Hutchins’ widower, Matthew, in which he will become an executive producer adding that the filmmakers intend to finish the film as a tribute to Hutchins’ final work, and are also cooperating with a documentary crew.

Also Read: Alec Baldwin and ‘Rust’ Armorer’s firearm enhancement charges dropped with removal of five-year prison sentence