Significantly Lighter Prison Sentence Possible for Hollywood Star Alec Baldwin

(Patria) - Prosecutors have reduced the charges of involuntary manslaughter against Alec Baldwin, making a lighter prison sentence possible for the Hollywood star who faces charges in the death during the filming of the movie "Rust," according to prosecution documents.

New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies charged Baldwin and the film's armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed last month with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

The most serious charge carries a potential prison sentence of five years.

Carmack-Altwies filed an amended indictment against Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed on Friday, removing the firearm enhancement as a charge. This means the prison sentence is now a maximum of 18 months, down from a minimum of five years.

"To avoid further delays in Mr. Baldwin's proceedings and his attorneys' proceedings, the District Attorney and the Special Prosecutor have removed the firearm charge from the involuntary manslaughter charge in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the 'Rust' film set," said First Judicial District Attorney's Office spokesperson Heather Brewer, Hina reports.

The actor has denied responsibility for the shooting, stating that he cocked the revolver but never pulled the trigger and that it was Gutierrez-Reed's and other weapons experts' job to ensure there were no bullets in it.

Gutierrez-Reed said she checked that the bullets in the gun were fake before handing it over to the first assistant director Dave Halls. Halls handed the revolver to Baldwin, saying it was "cold," meaning it had no explosive charge.

According to safety guidelines in the film industry, actors assume that firearms do not contain real bullets, which are strictly prohibited on sets.