FILE - This aerial photo shows part of the Bonanza Creek Ranch film set in Santa Fe, N.M., Oct. 23, 2021. A grand jury indicted Alec Baldwin on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, on an involuntary manslaughter charge in a 2021 fatal shooting during a rehearsal on a movie set in New Mexico, reviving a dormant case against the A-list actor. the actor in connection with the fatal 2021 shooting of a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie in New Mexico.
Defense attorneys for Baldwin indicate they'll fight the charge, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to 18 months.Baldwin can enter a formal plea with or without a court arraignment, setting in motion preparations for trial. An earlier FBI report on the agency’s analysis of the gun found that, as is common with firearms of that design, it could go off without pulling the trigger if force was applied to an uncocked hammer — such as by dropping the weapon. The gun eventually broke during testing.
“We don’t know exactly what their theory is,” Day said. “It could be that they're including his role as basically CEO of the production ... not having a safe workplace and somebody dies and you're at the top of the pyramid.” “His attorneys will certainly be watching the armorer's trial closely,” said Los Angeles-based entertainment litigator and defense attorney Kate Mangels, who is not involved in the case. “It could offer a preview of the prosecution's approach and potential witness testimony.”
New court filings Friday indicate that “Rust” prop master Sarah Zachry has signed an agreement to cooperate with special prosecutors in return for leniency. Zachry worked closely to secure guns and ammunition on set with Gutierrez-Reed.