Alec Baldwin Charged

[George K]

It's more than just 18 months.

The judge had the option to jail her for 12 months in a jail, not prison, and no felony on her record. She didn't do that, the judge gave her the (surprisingly short) maximum sentence of 18 months - in prison.

Also, she is classified as a "violent offender." That means that, in New Mexico, she has to serve 85% of the sentence - even with time off for good behavior. So, at least 15 months, 1 week.

The judge looked pissed.

[Horace]

I wonder if the judge felt more feels about her behavior than the feels she feels about more common violent offenses like rape and murder.

[LuFins Dad]

What are the charges Baldwin faces? His role as producer plays a part in this in addition to being the guy that actually pulled the trigger. If the actions of the armorer were that blatantly dangerous? Then he bears responsibility for allowing that culture on his set.

[Renauda]

@George-K

The judge looked pissed.

At what? The crime? The professional negligence that resulted in a death? Or the attitude that went along with the negligence?

I don’t know as I haven’t followed the trial.

[Mik]

Well, it's kind of a 'you had ONE JOB' scenario. That she would even have allowed live ammunition on a movie set is pretty unbelievable.

[George K]

@Mik said in Alec Baldwin Charged:

Well, it's kind of a 'you had ONE JOB' scenario.

Actually, she had two jobs - she was also on the crew that took care of props other than firearms. One of her arguments (faulty as it was) is that there was too much pressure to do everything properly and safely.

That she would even have allowed live ammunition on a movie set is pretty unbelievable.

Still unanswered is how that happened. She claims to have been unaware, though there are multiple reports of cast and crew enjoying "extracurricular" shooting with live ammo. But, you're right it was her job to make sure the gun was safe. She was not on set when the gun was handed to Baldwin. Someone else did that (a woman named "Zachary," iirc) who ended up testifying for the state.

[Renauda]

@Mik

Yes, I can see that, she had one job. The negligence leading to the shooting is reprehensible as it is unacceptable.

[George K]

The judge. "You were the armorer. You alone are responsible for turning a safe weapon into a lethal weapon. But for you, a husband would have his wife, and a little boy his mother."

Note, this is the same prosecutor who is teeing up the Baldwin case.

And that will be before the same judge.

ETA: Go to 2:07.

Link to video

[Renauda]

I would say the judge is doing her job in accordance to the responsibilities her job entails and bestows upon her.

[George K]

@Renauda said in Alec Baldwin Charged:

I would say the judge is doing her job in accordance to the responsibilities her job entails and bestows upon her.

I watched most of the trial, or at least the nightly summaries.

1. Gutierrez's attorney was a doofus. He was incompetent and unengaged. The witnesses he called were worse than useless - they damage her case. During the police interview prior to trial he sat like a turd, and NEVER intervened ("Don't answer that").

2. The DA, Morrissey, was really excellent. She's a barracuda with a keen mind and never, ever, lets go. She used to be a public defender, and she knows the ropes.

3. The judge was a hard-ass.

Like I said, the judge and the DA will be there in July for Baldwin.

My opinion? He's guilty as well.

[LuFins Dad]

@George-K said in Alec Baldwin Charged:

@Mik said in Alec Baldwin Charged:

Well, it's kind of a 'you had ONE JOB' scenario.

Actually, she had two jobs - she was also on the crew that took care of props other than firearms. One of her arguments (faulty as it was) is that there was too much pressure to do everything properly and safely.

That she would even have allowed live ammunition on a movie set is pretty unbelievable.

Still unanswered is how that happened. She claims to have been unaware, though there are multiple reports of cast and crew enjoying "extracurricular" shooting with live ammo. But, you're right it was her job to make sure the gun was safe. She was not on set when the gun was handed to Baldwin. Someone else did that (a woman named "Zachary," iirc) who ended up testifying for the state.

Whoa, wait, she wasn’t even on set the day the shooting happened? And she was found guilty? Oh shit, that makes it worse for Baldwin…

[LuFins Dad]

@George-K said in Alec Baldwin Charged:

The judge. "You were the armorer. You alone are responsible for turning a safe weapon into a lethal weapon. But for you, a husband would have his wife, and a little boy his mother."

Note, this is the same prosecutor who is teeing up the Baldwin case.

And that will be before the same judge.

ETA: Go to 2:07.

Link to video

Again, I think it goes worse for him as the producer than it would if he was just the actor.

[George K]

@LuFins-Dad said in Alec Baldwin Charged:

Whoa, wait, she wasn’t even on set the day the shooting happened? And she was found guilty? Oh shit, that makes it worse for Baldwin…

She was "on set" in the sense that she was in the vicinity. But, iirc, when the pistol was handed to Baldwin she had to go to the bathroom. She did not hand him the gun.

Baldwin was handed one of three prop guns by assistant director David Halls that were set up in a cart by an armorer for the movie “Rust.”

Halls did not know there were live rounds in the gun, the affidavit said.

Halls took a plea deal - 6 months probation.

[Horace]

Is there an established narrative for how the live ammo got onto set and into the prop gun? tl;dr version?

[Renauda]

@George-K

My opinion? He's guilty as well.

Of course, he was manager in charge who handled the weapon and pulled the trigger. Did he visually inspect the weapon before doing so? No.

[George K]

@Horace said in Alec Baldwin Charged:

Is there an established narrative for how the live ammo got onto set and into the prop gun? tl;dr version?

No.

One theory is that Gutierrez got the ammo in a box from a supplier in LA. In the box, apparently, there were dummy rounds, blanks, and live rounds.

That box DID make it to the set.

@Renauda said:

he was manager in charge who handled the weapon and pulled the trigger

And the state's bar for proving guilt is pretty low:

1. Did he point the gun at Hitchens?
2. Did he pull the trigger?
3. Was there a live round in the pistol?
4. Was she killed?

That's it. They have no other burden than those simple things.

As I mentioned, New Mexico Supreme Court has, in the past, ruled that "I didn't know it was loaded" is not a valid defense.

[Mik]

See, I don’t buy that. No mens rea. Baldwin had every expectation that the gun was safe.

[Renauda]

Let the courts decide. Baldwin has the means to appeal if he doesn’t like the verdict of this trial.

[George K]

@Mik said in Alec Baldwin Charged:

. No mens rea. Baldwin had every expectation that the gun was safe.

Mens rea has nothing to do with it. If he had known the gun was unsafe, he would either not have fired it (in a scene where there was no camera rolling, by the way), or be on trial for murder, not homicide.

[George K]

I'd forgotten about this.

Gutierrez also took a selfie with her holding guns.
In a bathroom.
In a bar (where firearms are prohibited).

She's under indictment for that.