SANTA FE, N.M. –
A film weapons supervisor was sentenced to 18 months in jail within the deadly taking pictures of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin on the set of the Western movie “Rust,” throughout a listening to Monday by which tearful members of the family and buddies gave testimonials that included requires justice and a punishment that may instill higher accountability for security on movie units.
Gutierrez-Reed was unsuccessful in her plea for a lesser sentencing, telling the decide she was not the monster that folks have made her out to be and that she had tried to do her finest on the set regardless of not having “correct time, sources and staffing.”
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer for “Rust,” was pointing a gun at Hutchins throughout a rehearsal on a film set exterior Santa Fe in October 2021 when the revolver went off, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.
Baldwin has pleaded not responsible to a cost of involuntary manslaughter. He’s scheduled for trial in July at a courthouse in Santa Fe.
The sentence in opposition to Gutierrez-Reed was delivered by New Mexico Choose Mary Marlowe Summer season, who’s overseeing proceedings in opposition to Baldwin. The decide stated something lower than the utmost sentence wouldn’t be applicable on condition that Gutierrez-Reed’s recklessness amounted to a critical violent offense.
“You have been the armourer, the one which stood between a secure weapon and a weapon that might kill somebody,” the decide instructed Gutierrez-Reed. “You alone turned a secure weapon right into a deadly weapon. However for you, Ms. Hutchins could be alive, a husband would have his associate and a bit of boy would have his mom.”
Gutierrez-Reed teared up as Hutchins’ agent, Craig Mizrahi, spoke in regards to the cinematographer’s creativity and described her as a rising star in Hollywood. He stated it was a series of occasions that led to Hutchins’ demise and that had the armourer been doing her job, that chain would have been damaged.
Family and friends recalled Hutchins as brave, tenacious and compassionate — a “brilliant beam of sunshine” who may have gone on to perform nice issues throughout the movie business.
“I actually really feel that this was resulting from negligence,” Steven Metz testified. “This case must set a precedent for all the opposite actors, and cinematographers and each one on set whose lives are in danger when we’ve got negligence by the hands of an armourer, a supposed armourer.”
Los Angeles-based legal professional Gloria Allred learn an announcement by Hutchins’ mom, Olga Solovey, who stated her life had been break up in two and that point did not heal, somewhat it solely extended her ache and struggling. A video of a tearful Solovey, who lives in Ukraine, additionally was performed for the court docket.
“It is the toughest factor to lose a toddler. There isn’t any phrases to explain,” Solovey stated in her native language.
Defence attorneys for Gutierrez-Reed requested leniency in sentencing — together with a doable conditional discharge that may keep away from additional jail time and depart an adjudication of guilt off her file if sure circumstances are met.
Gutierrez-Reed was acquitted at trial of allegations she tampered with proof within the “Rust” investigation. She additionally has pleaded not responsible to a separate felony cost that she allegedly carried a gun right into a bar in Santa Fe the place firearms are prohibited.
Defence attorneys have highlighted Gutierrez-Reed’s comparatively younger age “and the devastating impact a felony may have on her life going ahead.”
They stated the 26-year-old will ceaselessly be affected negatively by intense publicity related along with her prosecution in parallel with an A-list actor, and has suffered from nervousness, concern and despair because of this.
Particular prosecutor Kari Morrissey urged the decide to impose the utmost jail sentence and designate Gutierrez-Reed as a “critical violent offender” to restrict her eligibility for a sentence discount later, describing the defendant’s habits on the set of “Rust” as exceptionally reckless.
Morrissey instructed the decide Monday that she reviewed practically 200 telephone calls that Gutierrez-Reed had comprised of jail during the last month. She stated she hoped there could be a second when the defendant would take duty for what occurred or categorical real regret.
“That second has by no means come,” Morrissey stated. “Ms. Gutierrez continues to refuse to just accept duty for her function within the demise of Halyna Hutchins.”
Defence attorneys argued Monday that Gutierrez-Reed was remorseful and had breakdowns over Hutchins’ demise. Additionally they pointed to systemic issues that led to the taking pictures.
“Rust” assistant director and security coordinator Dave Halls final 12 months pleaded no contest to negligent dealing with of a firearm and accomplished a sentence of six months unsupervised probation. “Rust” props grasp Sarah Zachry, who shared some obligations over firearms on the set of “Rust,” signed an settlement with prosecutors to keep away from prosecution in return along with her cooperation.
The pending firearms cost in opposition to Gutierrez-Reed stems from an incident at a bar in downtown Santa Fe, days earlier than she was employed to work because the armourer on “Rust.” Prosecutors says investigations into the deadly taking pictures led to discovery of a selfie video by which Gutierrez-Reed filmed herself carrying a firearm into the bar, whereas defence attorneys allege vindictive prosecution.
