Prosecutors on Thursday charged “Rust” movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed with tampering with evidence in connection with the 2021 fatal shooting of the film’s cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Gutierrez-Reed, 25, also faces an additional charge over “the transfer of narcotics to another person” when Alec Baldwin’s prop gun accidentally discharged a live round and struck cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, in the chest, and also wounded the film’s director Joel Souza on Oct. 21, 2021.
According to a report published by The New York Times, the Santa Fe District Attorney’s Office said the drug transfer was meant to prevent criminal prosecution.
“The prosecutors are determined to get the facts of the case before the court,” Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey said in a statement obtained by ABC 7 News. “The ongoing investigation revealed strong evidence that Ms. Gutierrez-Reed tampered with evidence on the day of the shooting by asking another person to take possession of her narcotics.”
Morrissey added that Gutierrez-Reed “is properly charged with tampering with evidence.”
“The prosecution will provide [Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney Jason Bowles] all evidence related to the new charge in a timely fashion,” the statement continues.
“Defendants are never entitled to notice that an information is being filed, the information is the notice. Defendants are not entitled to discovery prior to charges being filed. As a former prosecutor, Mr. Bowles knows this to be true.”
Attorneys for Gutierrez-Reed have responded to the charge, asking the judge to dismiss the new details in a new court filing, according to the motion obtained by Deadline.
Jason Bowles, who is representing Gutierrez-Reed, also asked the judge to have the state prosecutor turn over emails between the investigator, the district attorney, and state prosecutors.
“It is shocking that after 20 months of investigation, the special prosecutor now throws in a completely new charge against Ms. Gutierrez Reed, with no prior notice or any witness statements, lab reports, or evidence to support it,” he said in a statement to ABC News.
“This comes on the heels of the state letting its lead investigator go, and the investigator raising serious concerns about the investigation in an email. This stinks to high heaven and is retaliatory and vindictive.”
Gutierrez-Reed’s legal team said she plans to plead not guilty to both the evidence tampering and involuntary manslaughter charges.
She is now the sole defendant facing involuntary manslaughter charges after prosecutors dropped the same charges against Baldwin in April.
Before his formal charges, the actor denied any responsibility for Hutchins’ death and argued that he didn’t even pull the prop gun’s trigger.
He went on to settle a wrongful death lawsuit with Hutchins’ family last year before filing a negligence suit against four crew members.
Baldwin’s complaint alleged that several crew members failed to maintain safety on set by handing him the loaded gun.
With Post wires
