Convicted "Rust" Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed's Legal Team Seeks Release Amid Baldwin Case Dismissal

SANTA FE, N.M.— Attorneys for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer convicted in the notorious "Rust" case, are pursuing her release from incarceration in light of recent developments in Alec Baldwin’s legal proceedings. On Tuesday, Jason Bowles, representing Gutierrez-Reed, submitted a motion requesting either a new trial or the dismissal of charges against her. The motion, reported by NBC News, alleges "severe and ongoing discovery violations by the State," a response prompted by recent events in Baldwin’s trial.

This legal action follows the dismissal of Baldwin’s criminal case on Friday, a decision made by 1st Judicial District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer. Judge Sommer determined that special prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey had committed significant misconduct by suppressing crucial evidence related to live ammunition involved in the fatal 2021 shooting on the "Rust" set, which led to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Describing the discovery violation as "egregious," Judge Sommer concluded that "There is no way for the court to right this wrong" and ruled that dismissal was the only suitable remedy.

The dismissal was with prejudice, meaning the involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin cannot be refiled.

Baldwin’s defense team contended that the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office had confiscated live ammunition as evidence but failed to record this evidence in the official case file or disclose it to Baldwin’s legal team. This failure was pivotal in the argument leading to the dismissal of Baldwin’s case.

Special prosecutor Morrissey, however, maintained that the live ammunition was not relevant to Baldwin’s defense and was not intentionally concealed. “I believe the importance of the evidence was misconstrued by the defense attorneys,” Morrissey stated to reporters outside the courtroom.

In a separate case earlier this year, Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Her legal team’s current motions aim to address perceived procedural errors and prosecutorial misconduct, which they argue have compromised the fairness of her trial.

Alongside the request for a new trial or dismissal, Bowles has also called for the removal of Morrissey from her role as special prosecutor, citing alleged misconduct and violations in Gutierrez-Reed’s case. NBC News has sought a response from Morrissey regarding these recent developments.

Bowles expressed profound concern about the case’s implications in a statement last week. “The judge absolutely made the right decision on the law and on the facts,” Bowles remarked. “The judge found the state committed misconduct. Seeing Mr. Baldwin and understanding what he was enduring, while knowing Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is in prison, and recognizing the state’s pattern of discovery violations … it’s devastating.”

The motion for Gutierrez-Reed’s release and the call for a new trial highlight ongoing legal disputes surrounding the "Rust" case and underscore the broader issues related to prosecutorial conduct and evidence management in high-profile legal proceedings.