Adding to the gravity of Baldwin’s upcoming trial, he will be tried in the same court, by the same judge, and potentially in front of a community already familiar with the case details, facing the same 18-month imprisonment sentence if convicted.
The incident itself occurred on October 21, 2021, during rehearsals at the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico. Baldwin was rehearsing with what was supposed to be a prop gun loaded with blanks. Tragically, the gun discharged a live round, fatally wounding Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. This incident has not only led to legal repercussions but also ignited a global discussion on safety protocols within the film industry.
Mark Geragos, a criminal defense attorney, highlighted the significance of the judge’s comments during Gutierrez Reed’s sentencing. “It’s tough. I don’t think that there was, by definition, any intent, but the law will still hold you responsible,” he relayed from Fox News, reflecting on Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer’s explanation of her reasoning. Geragos expressed his concern for Baldwin’s defense: “The judge kind of laid out exactly her thinking. I will tell you, if you’re defending Alec Baldwin, this is going to give you grave, grave concern going into that trial.”
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Geragos concluded by noting the challenge Baldwin faces, particularly since the blame was frequently shifted towards him during Gutierrez Reed’s trial. “I expect he’s got a tough road here because [Gutierrez Reed’s] trial was filled with trying to shift blame to him,” he told Fox, underscoring the complexity and difficulty Baldwin will likely encounter as he prepares for his trial.
