'Rust' Prosecutor Gifts Alec Baldwin Shocking Holiday Present By Dropping Appeal

In January 2024, actor Alec Baldwin entered a plea of not guilty after he was indicted for a second time on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

In January 2023, both the "30 Rock" actor and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed were charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter; however, the charges against Baldwin were dropped pending more investigation on the firearm used in the fatal shooting.

In January 2024, criminal charges were refiled against Baldwin, who went to trial in July. However, after three days, Judge Mary Marlow Sommer dismissed the charges with prejudice after concluding that prosecutors hid important evidence from the defense.

Even though the judge dropped the charges against the “30 Rock” actor, lead prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey continued on her quest to see Baldwin behind bars by filing an appeal, furthering the legal drama. However, unexpectedly, she dropped her appeal shortly before Christmas, ending the actor’s “Rust” drama once and for all.

The decision was announced on December 23, following a press release that revealed that Morrissey had withdrawn the State’s notice of appeal. That notice had been filed on November 21, only a few days before Thanksgiving.

The press release states that "The Special Prosecutor intended to pursue an appeal of the dismissal, however, the Office of the Attorney General notified the Special Prosecutor that the Attorney General did not intend to exhaustively pursue the appeal on behalf of the prosecution.”

However, the State “strongly disagrees” with the court’s decision to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin, which could have left him facing 18 months behind bars if convicted. They also denied concealing evidence.

Instead of looking to punish Alec Baldwin for his actions on set in October 2021, the press release claims that the trial had been about looking to achieve justice for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and her family.

“This has always been about seeking justice for Halyna Hutchins," Morrisey said in a statement, per the release. "We regret that Mr. Baldwin will not be held accountable for the role he played in the death of Halyna Hutchins and as we withdraw the appeal, we do so with the hope that the outstanding lawsuits bring some measure of justice to the family of Halyna Hutchins.”

In their own statement, the “Supercell” actor’s attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, told Peoplemagazine that the "decision to dismiss the appeal is the final vindication of what Alec Baldwin and his attorneys have said from the beginning."

"This was an unspeakable tragedy but Alec Baldwin committed no crime. The rule of law remains intact in New Mexico," they added.

In a follow-up press release obtained by the publication, First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said that although the D.A. does not agree with the dismissal of charges, it does support Morrissey’s decision to drop her appeal.

"The FJDA remains steadfast in its mission to uphold justice. There is still much work to be done in criminal court, and our office will continue to diligently prosecute cases with integrity, fairness, and commitment to the rule of law,” read the statement.

They also noted how the highly publicized trial "sparked industry-wide scrutiny, specifically in New Mexico, of safety protocols, especially the use of firearms and live ammunition on set."

According to the release, Hutchins' family has also pushed for "safer practices in the industry.” They are scheduled to make a statement on Tuesday, December 24, according to their attorney, Gloria Allred. In January 2024, after charges were filed against the "Beetlejuice" actor for the second time, Allred issued a statement saying:

“Our clients have always sought the truth about what happened on the day that Halyna Hutchins was tragically shot and killed on October 21, 2021. They continue to seek the truth in our civil lawsuit for them and they also would like there to be accountability in the criminal justice system."