New Mexico: Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' Case Takes Shocking Development

The gun enhancement charge at Alec Baldwin's "Rust" shooting case, which resulted in Halyna Hutchins's death in October 2021, has been dropped, the Santa Fe District Attorney's Office in New Mexico said in a press release Monday. This takes the maximum term of five years in prison off the table, according to ABC News.

Despite the reduced charge, Baldwin still faces 18 months in prison if he is found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for the incident. It was submitted late on Friday to alter the complaint.

The involuntary manslaughter case against Baldwin's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was also dropped.

Mary Carmack-Altwies, New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney, said in a statement, "To avoid further litigious distractions by Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys, the District Attorney and the special prosecutor have removed the firearm enhancement to the involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the 'Rust' film set."

The prosecution's first aim is delivering justice, not generating billable hours for high-priced lawyers in major cities.

Baldwin will go to court for the first time on Friday.

The Developments Comes From Alec Baldwin's Request To Remove a Special Prosecutor From the Case

The change occurred just after Baldwin, citing New Mexico's separation-of-powers law, filed a motion this month to remove Andrea Reeb, the special prosecutor, from the case, said NBC News.

In a filing with the First Judicial District Court of New Mexico, Baldwin's legal team asserted that Reeb, a New Mexico House of Representatives member, should not be allowed to sit at the prosecutor's table because a "sitting member of the Legislature may not 'exercise any powers properly belonging' to either the executive or judicial branch."

Gutierrez-Reed lawyer, Jason Bowles, released a statement saying, "We applaud the District Attorney's decision to drop the firearm enhancement and it was the right call, ethically and on the merits."

Baldwin's lawyers have remained silent about the latest developments but had previously argued that the augmentation was unlawful because it was imposed after the incident.

Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' Shooting

During the "Rust" filming in New Mexico, Baldwin was aiming a pistol at Hutchins when it went off, killing her and wounded director Joel Souza.

The case filed by Hutchins' husband and kid has been settled, but her parents and sister have decided to bring their lawsuit over the shooting.

After the halt due to the incident, the production of the movie is scheduled to pick back up this spring, KOAT reports.

Matthew Hutchins, Hutchins' widower, has been named the film's executive producer by Rust Movie Productions, while Blanca Cline has been tapped to serve as cinematographer, replacing Hutchins.

Rust Movie Productions revealed last week that a connected documentary would follow the film's completion and Halyna Hutchins' life.

Regardless of where the filming will take place, Souza will return to the director's chair when production resumes.

Officials from Rust Movie Productions have stated that "working weapons" and "any form of ammunition" are not allowed on set.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: DA drops gun enhancement charge against Alec Baldwin in 'Rust' shooting - From ABC7