New Mexico Judge Upholds Involuntary Manslaughter Conviction in "Rust" Shooting

A New Mexico judge has upheld the involuntary manslaughter conviction of armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed in connection with the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins by Alec Baldwin on the set of the film "Rust."

Gutierrez-Reed had requested the court to dismiss her conviction or order a new trial, claiming misconduct and evidence suppression by law enforcement. However, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer upheld the conviction, which carries a maximum penalty of 18 months.

Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty by a jury in March and sentenced to the maximum penalty. She has already appealed the conviction to a higher court.

Prosecutors blamed Gutierrez-Reed for bringing live ammunition onto the set of "Rust" and failing to follow basic gun safety protocols. Her attorneys argued that prosecutors withheld evidence that could have been exculpatory.

Gutierrez-Reed was acquitted of tampering with evidence in the "Rust" investigation. She has also pleaded not guilty to a separate felony charge of carrying a gun into a bar in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A proposed plea agreement for this charge is awaiting court review.

The shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the set of "Rust" in October 2021 has sparked ongoing legal proceedings and raised questions about gun safety protocols in the film industry.