Actor Alec Baldwin on Thursday pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges relating to the 2021 fatal shooting on the set of the movie “Rust,” CNN reported, citing a court document waiving his first court appearance.
Baldwin is released on personal recognizance as long as he doesn’t own a gun, abstains from alcohol and doesn’t speak with other witnesses of the shooting, court documents say.
He was originally expected to appear in court on Friday but is no longer required as he waived his first appearance. Armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed is still expected to appear in court Friday.
New Mexico prosecutors formally charged Baldwin and Gutierrez Reed with involuntary manslaughter last month for the death of the movie’s cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins.
Earlier this week, the charges against Baldwin and Gutierrez Reed were downgraded by prosecutors, potentially reducing the prison time the both could face by five years.
Hutchins was struck and killed by a live round of ammunition fired from a prop gun that was being held by Baldwin, who has maintained that he did not pull the gun’s trigger.
The movie’s director Joel Souza was also shot and injured.
Baldwin has said that he had no idea how a live bullet got onto the set.
Baldwin last year reached an undisclosed settlement with Hutchins’ husband and their child. Earlier this month, the parents and sister of Hutchins filed a new lawsuit against Baldwin and others involved in the film.
In November, Baldwin filed a lawsuit in California against several individuals associated with the film, alleging wrongdoing against someone in relation to the shooting.