Fatal shooting on film “Rust”: Alec Baldwin pleads not guilty. The 65-year-old actor was expected in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing, but his defense waived his right to appear and sent a document saying he is pleading not guilty to manslaughter.
The actor, who faces up to 18 months in prison, denies pulling the trigger and has always maintained that he was assured that his weapon was harmless. The director of photography of his western, Rust, was killed in the shooting.