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Actor Alec Baldwin: The maximum sentence would now apparently be 18 months
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ANGELA WEISS / AFP
New Mexico prosecutors have downgraded the involuntary manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin, reducing the potential jail time the Hollywood star could face for the fatal shooting on the set of the movie Rust in 2021.
This was reported by several US media on Monday, citing indictment documents.
Mary Carmack-Altwies, New Mexico's first district attorney, indicted Baldwin and film gunner Hannah Gutierrez-Reed last month in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
If convicted, they would have faced up to five years in prison.
The prosecutor reportedly filed amended charges for Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed on Friday, reducing their possible sentences to a maximum of 18 months.
The prosecution followed the reasoning of Baldwin's defense.
According to the New York Times, she had argued that the prosecution had "committed a fundamental legal error" because, among other things, they had accused the actor of improving a weapon - but this law did not exist at the time of the fatal incident in October 2021 in New Mexico .
It was not passed until 2022.
A spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office said the original charges had been dropped to "avoid further diversion by Mr Baldwin and his lawyers".
Real bullet in the colt
Camerawoman Halyna Hutchins was fatally injured while filming the western "Rust" at a Santa Fe film ranch in October 2021.
Baldwin, who served as lead actor and producer on the film, was holding a gun in rehearsal for a scene when a shot went off.
Director Joel Souza was hit in the shoulder by the projectile and injured in the incident.
Investigations revealed that the Colt had a real bullet lodged in it.
Baldwin had always denied responsibility for the fatal accident.
Hutchins also survived a husband and a son.
Widower Matthew Hutchins filed a civil suit against Baldwin and other contributors in February 2022.
In October, Hutchins announced it had settled out of court and settled the lawsuit
Sol/Reuters