BREAKING NEWS
The Associated Press (“AP News”) reports that late this afternoon (7/12/2024), New Mexico Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the criminal case against actor Alec Baldwin, with prejudice, due to police and prosecutor misconduct involving the withholding of probative evidence from the defense.
The evidence in question involved ammunition obtained by the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department after “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s conviction, who was sentenced to 18 months of incarceration and is appealing her conviction.
Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter resulting from the 2021 shooting and death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the “Rust” movie set near Santa Fe, New Mexico. Baldwin was the person holding the revolver that fired the bullet which killed Hutchins.
Although the criminal case against Baldwin has now been formally dismissed, Baldwin and other “Rust” producers still face civil lawsuits from Hutchins’ parents and sister.
The AP News article may be read in full HERE.
CNN is reporting on this matter HERE.
KOAT Action News 7 (Albuquerque, NM) is reporting on this matter HERE.
Here is a YouTube video from the Law & Crime Network of Judge Sommer’s explanation and dismissal of the case against Alec Baldwin:
My brothers and sisters, there is much to consider in this matter and much that is not known, but when prosecuting in a high profile case such as this, integrity is absolutely critical. The failure to follow all necessary discovery procedures and the failure to ‘err’ on the side of caution when dealing with items of potential evidentiary value is simply inexcusable.
It will be very interesting to see if the ammunition reportedly brought to New Mexico law enforcement and prosecutors – but not shared with Baldwin’s defense team – will have any impact on cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ recent conviction, incarceration and pending appeal.
God desires for us to walk in wisdom, integrity and moral courage in our professional and personal lives. It seems that the Lord wants to get our attention:
Proverbs 11:1-3 (Amplified Bible)
“A false balance and dishonest business practices are extremely offensive to the Lord, [b]ut an accurate scale is His delight. When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame, [b]ut with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind. The integrity and moral courage of the upright will guide them [emphasis mine], [b]ut the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.
FGGAM will follow up in this matter, as warranted.