Alec Baldwin Sues for Malicious Prosecution After Rust Shooting Trial

Alec Baldwin is taking legal action.

About half a year since an New Mexico court dropped the involuntary manslaughter case against the actor in relation to the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Baldwin has initiated a civil lawsuit claiming malicious prosecution and violations of his civil rights, as reported by The Associated Press.

The January 9th legal action, submitted at the state district court in Santa Fe, NM, alleges that special prosecutor Kari Morrissey, District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies of Santa Fe, investigators from the Santa Fe County sheriff’s office, and the Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners have been attempting to wrongly blame Alec Baldwin for actions and oversights of others, disregarding evidence or legal implications.

The legal action claims that investigators and district attorneys intentionally focused on Alec Baldwin for personal or political advantages, as reported by Rolling Stone. Additionally, it contends that prosecutors infringed upon his constitutional rights by inappropriately employing “the criminal system” and were so intent on convicting Alec Baldwin without just cause and at any expense.

As per the report, Baldwin, who was a producer on the set of Rust, is looking to claim compensatory damages that the law allows in its entirety.

TopMob News has attempted contact with representatives from Baldwin’s legal team (Carmack-Altwies), the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners; however, we have yet to receive a response.

Morrissey’s office informed TopMob News through a statement that they found out about Baldwin potentially filing a lawsuit over a year ago, specifically in October 2023. “The prosecution team learned that Mr. Baldwin was planning to retaliate with a civil lawsuit,” the statement added. “We are eager for our chance to present our case in court.

In response to a recent lawsuit, Baldwin’s legal representatives, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, communicated to Entertainment Weekly that “Criminal proceedings are intended to seek truth and justice, rather than pursuing personal or political advantages, or harassing the innocent.

Kari Morrissey and the other accused repeatedly breached a fundamental rule and infringed upon Alec Baldwin’s rights, as stated. This lawsuit is filed to ensure the culprits face consequences for their actions and to deter them from repeating such misconduct against others in the future.

In a surprising turn last July, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer terminated Baldwin’s manslaughter trial abruptly, dismissing the case entirely due to Baldwin’s legal team alleging that the prosecution had concealed crucial evidence.

In the courtroom on July 12, she stated that it’s impossible for the court to rectify this injustice. However, given the circumstances, a decision to dismiss the case seems appropriate.

The termination occurred subsequent to Crime Scene Technician Marissa Poppell’s court testimony, where she stated that the ex-Arizona police officer Troy Teske had provided her with some ammunition. According to her, this ammunition was believed by Teske to be connected to the Rust case. Notably, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who stood trial in March 2024 and was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, received a sentence of 18 months in prison for her conviction.

As a diligent record-keeper, I made sure to document each round separately, under a distinct case file. However, I firmly dispute the assertion by Baldwin’s defense team that I did this intentionally to conceal it from them.

On July 12, Kenney asserted that he wasn’t accountable for the shootings, stating during his testimony that “I had no doubt in my mind that I supplied the live ammunition to Rust.

Following the dismissal, Baldwin shared an emotional message of gratitude on his Instagram.

On July 13, he wrote that there are far too many individuals who have shown their support for him to express thanks immediately. To each and every one of you, please understand the depth of gratitude I hold for your compassion toward my loved ones.

Read on for the major moments of Baldwin’s trial.

The termination occurred subsequent to crime scene analyst Marissa Poppell’s court testimony, where she stated that ex-Arizona police officer Troy Teske had passed on some ammunition to her, which he believed was relevant to the Rust case, following the trial of armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. (Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March 2024 and received a prison sentence of 18 months.)

Testified that she recorded each round separately within a different case document, but rejected accusations by Baldwin’s legal team suggesting she did this deliberately to conceal it from them.

Baldwin’s team stated in a motion filed on July 11th that they were never made aware of the ammunition provided by Teske, claiming that the state intentionally hid evidence suggesting an external source for the ammunition (Seth Kenney) as it would be beneficial to Baldwin. Baldwin was unaware that there was a risk that live ammunition had been brought onto the set of “Rust” without his knowledge.

On the 12th of July, I proudly declared my innocence regarding the fateful rounds, testifying then and there that “in my mind, there was no doubt whatsoever that I supplied the live ammunition to Rust.” As a devoted fan, it’s crucial for me to set the record straight.

Following the dismissal, Baldwin shared an emotional message of gratitude on his Instagram.

On the 13th of July, he penned down, “I can’t thank everyone who has backed me right away, but please understand how deeply I value your generosity towards my loved ones.

Read on for the major moments of Baldwin’s trial.

A video showing Alec Baldwin practicing a church scene where he brandished a firearm at Bonanza Creek Ranch was presented to the court during the initial proceedings on July 10th.

He seems to be saying, “Let’s use it then?”, as he repeatedly draws the gun from beneath his coatcoat three times while practicing.

In his initial argument, defense attorney Alex Spiro stressed that his client is an actor. He contends that while it’s possible my client handled the gun and even triggered it (a claim Baldwin has consistently refuted), he should not be held accountable for Halyna Hutchins’ unfortunate demise as she was the one who suffered the consequences of a prop gun misfiring on set.

Spiro stated that he had no information or grounds to believe, “That gun contained a live bullet.

Spiro listened to the emergency call that the script supervisor made on the film set following the shooting of Hutchins at 1:46 pm on October 21, 2021.

The caller expressed his annoyance over the aggressive advertisement that demanded information about revisions during lunch, saying, “This irritating ad… it’s his fault.” or “The caller complained about a pushy advertiser who asked about revisions during lunch, stating, ‘That bothersome ad… it’s on him.’

In March 2023, David Halls, the first assistant director, received a sentence of six months’ unsupervised probation, following his plea of ‘no contest’ to a misdemeanor charge involving the reckless handling of a potentially lethal object.

It was found out that Hall’s team and the film armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, were the ones who had the gun prior to the deadly shot, which they later gave to Baldwin.

In March, Gutierrez was declared responsible for involuntary manslaughter and received a possible prison term of up to 18 months, similar to the sentence that Baldwin may receive if found guilty.

During Spiro’s initial presentation, the government expressed various concerns. One point of contention arose when Spiro stated that it is inherent in human nature, as well as a response to grief, for individuals to strive to understand a catastrophe and demand fairness.

In Spiro’s words, “Justice equals truth.” Unfortunately, this situation is a heart-wrenching incident. However, it should be noted that Alec Baldwin did not commit any criminal act.

The testimony commenced on July 10 with the prosecution witness, Officer Nicholas LeFleur from the Santa Fe Police Department, who happened to be working for the sheriff’s office at that time and was the first responder at Bonanza Creek Ranch following the shooting incident involving Hutchins.

During the pre-trial motions, despite strong opposition from the defense, footage captured by Officer LeFleur’s body camera was presented to the jury. This included tense moments showing Hutchins being cared for after being shot. Initially, the crew was inside the church before Hutchins was moved into an ambulance for additional treatment. They were waiting there for a helicopter to arrive and transport her to the hospital, as Officer LeFleur testified on the stand.

According to LeFleur, as shown in the body-cam footage, he went to his car to fetch some tape for marking off the crime scene area. He isn’t certain whether he was told to do so or if it was something he felt was necessary based on his instincts.

“I knew we needed to start one,” he said.

In the video, Baldwin was spotted with a lit cigarette, and prior to taking his statement, he wasn’t isolated from other witnesses, as per LeFleur. However, it should be noted that LeFleur instructed him to remain silent.

During questioning, LeFleur stated that at the time he hung the tape, he was unsure if a crime had taken place or if it was merely an accident.

During cross-examination, Officer LeFleur admitted that while he testified for the prosecution that he instructed Baldwin not to talk to other witnesses, he did not subsequently remind or warn him against chatting with others. Additionally, the officer confirmed that it was usually people who were approaching Baldwin to speak to him, not the other way around.

Furthermore, as Spiro argued, there were many police vehicles present and Baldwin might have been instructed to wait in any one of them apart from the rest, but no officer made him do so. This viewpoint was also shared by LeFleur.

During their search of the Rust set after the shooting incident, Marissa Poppell, a crime scene technician from the Santa Fe Sherriff’s Office, testified on July 11 that they discovered live ammunition alongside what are commonly known as spent bullets.

During Spiro’s questioning, it was revealed that there were real bullets present in the prop cart, a munition box, and gun holsters for two actors. She confirmed this. A court exhibit demonstrated that the live ammunition had a silver mark at the base, while the dummy rounds appeared more golden or bronze in color.

Spiro wondered if it’s possible that the Starline nickel live rounds and the Starline nickel dummy rounds could have been mixed up in that location, based on their similarity, according to your current hypothesis?

She said yes. Added Spiro? “In other words, somebody could have mistaken one for the other, right?”

Poppell replied, “Yes.”

Based on her July 10th statement, it was Poppell who retrieved Baldwin’s shoulder holster from the church following the shooting, and this holster contained a single live bullet.

During the jury’s lunch break, First Judicial District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer granted permission for prosecutors to present a section of a phone call that Alec Baldwin made to his wife Hilaria Baldwin from the police station following the shooting incident. In this conversation, he urged her to visit him in New Mexico, stating they would “enjoy themselves.

In the court proceedings, it was stated by Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey that at the time Baldwin placed the call, he wasn’t aware Hutchins had passed away, but he did know that she had sustained severe injuries.

If the defense hadn’t been emphasizing so much about his state of panic and distress, Morrissey mused, I’m not certain if it would matter, but apparently, he was making plans for a getaway instead.

The judge informed Baldwin’s legal team, who raised objections on multiple occasions, “Indeed, I believe it is pertinent to address the points you made regarding Baldwin’s distress, as it appears to hold significant weight in the case.

At Spiro’s cross, Poppell asserted that she did not conceal evidence by failing to include a box of bullets she received from a good Samaritan following Gutierrez’s trial in the total Rust-related evidence, nor did she disclose it to the defense. Instead, she claimed she never provided any evidence to the defense at all.

Morrissey pointed out that Poppell got the ammunition from a friend of Gutierrez’s father, a well-known Hollywood armorer named Thell Reed. The prosecution hinted that this individual might be trying to pin the blame for providing live rounds on set to Seth Kenney, the weapon supplier for the movie Rust.

During the course of redirecting questions, Poppell stated that there was no proof suggesting Kenney transported live ammunition for the purpose of setting it up, but she did possess evidence indicating that Gutierrez was responsible for doing so.

Jason Bowles, legal representative of Gutierrez, expressed astonishment to NBC News over the fact that the bullets at hand weren’t examined to determine if they matched the type of other bullets discovered on the Rust movie set.

Bowles stated, “They concealed the ball until it was brought up during the court proceedings. To uncover the facts, one must pursue every possible clue.

In my role as a lifestyle expert, I find myself reflecting on an intriguing turn of events that unfolded on the morning of July 12. As the jury was settling in for a day’s work, Judge Sommer unexpectedly adjourned the courtroom, citing the defense’s assertion that the state had concealed evidence. This sudden dismissal underscores the importance of transparency and fairness in the pursuit of justice.

Testified that Troy Teske, a friend of Gutierrez’s father who was earlier referred to as a “good Samaritan,” handed over a box of ammunition to him after Gutierrez was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March, in connection with Hutchins’ death. The court has since identified Teske differently.

Previously, Spiro asked Poppell to explain why she hadn’t placed the Rust case evidence box among the others.

This morning, prior to the jury’s arrival, Poppell once more asserted that he didn’t deliberately conceal any information. He explained to Spiro that he had been told to categorize the box under a different case number, which is why he complied with the instruction.

According to the defense’s claim, it was hidden from Alec Baldwin that there existed proof indicating the live bullet found on the set originated from Seth Kenney, not the officials of Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office or the state.

Following the midday recess, the prosecution summoned Kenney, the proprietor of PDQ Props, who was contracted for supplying the Rust film set with mock firearms and blank ammunition, to give testimony in a courtroom session not attended by the jury. This was done as part of a hearing concerning the defense’s motion.

Kenney stated emphatically that, given his experience of providing over a thousand props using blank ammunition, there was no doubt in his mind about his ability to provide live rounds for the scene if needed.

Morrissey called the defense’s attempt to blame Kenney “a wild goose chase.”

Morrissey consented to testify and clarify her involvement, or rather, her non-involvement as she declared, regarding why the box of ammunition provided by Teske wasn’t part of the evidence presented in the Rust case.

She stated that Jason Bowles, attorney for Gutierrez, was informed that Teske intended to provide him with the specific ammunition and, upon showing her a picture of the rounds in question, she believed they appeared “distinct” from the live ammunition discovered on the Rust film set.

Morrissey reported that Bowles notified Teske he wouldn’t be summoned as a witness. Additionally, after Teske delivered the rounds to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, then-Detective (now Corporal) Alexandra Hancock told her they would be submitted as evidence.

Morrissey testified she had “no idea” it wouldn’t be filed under the Rust case number.

Teske’s handed-over evidence, according to Morrissey, “would not have harmed the state’s argument,” and it “would have been the most favorable evidence I could have envisioned.

In simpler terms, Judge Sommer permanently threw out the charges against Baldwin, so they can’t be brought up again.

The judge concurred with the defense’s argument that crucial evidence might have been withheld by the state. He then stated, “Given the circumstances, the appropriate action is to dismiss the case.

Baldwin’s eyes welled up instantly as it dawned on him the way Sommer was likely to decide, just like Hilaria. They both were regular attendees at the trial, accompanied by Baldwin’s brother-in-law, Stephen.

2025-01-10 19:48

Read More