Following the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the Rust set, prosecutors in New Mexico dropped their charges against Alec Baldwin for weapon enhancement.
The actor may spend less time in prison as a result of the decision because the charges come with a mandatory five-year prison term.
Mr. Baldwin, who is accused of two counts of involuntary manslaughter, could potentially spend up to 18 months behind bars.
Joel Souza, the director of Rust, also sustained gunshot wounds.
In order to “prevent future litigious distractions by Mr. Baldwin and his counsel,” said Heather Brewer, a spokesperson for the Santa Fe County District Attorney, the prosecution dismissed the firearm enhancement allegation.
The pursuit of justice, not accruing billable hours for big-city attorneys, is the prosecution’s first concern, according to Ms. Brewer.
Prosecutors also dismissed the firearm enhancement allegation against Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the movie’s armorer and person in control of the guns on set, according to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.
Attorneys for Mr. Baldwin, 64, and Ms. Gutierrez-Reed argued against the firearm enhancement allegation by claiming that prosecutors were using a version of the legislation that was passed following the shooting incident in October 2021.
Ms. Hutchins, 42, passed away at the hospital after Mr. Baldwin shot her in the chest with a pretend gun.
Luke Nikas, Mr. Baldwin’s previous attorney, previously stated that his client “had no reason to suspect there was a live bullet in the revolver – or anyplace on the movie set.”
He trusted the experts with whom he worked when they told him the pistol didn’t contain live ammunition.
Mr. Baldwin and Ms. Gutierrez-Reed might be found guilty and sentenced to prison as well as pay a $5,000 (£4,040) fine.
