Hannah Gutierrez Reed was sentenced to 18 months in prison in connection to the fatal shooting of 'Rust' cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
Alec Baldwin dodges questions about involuntary manslaughter trial
Alec Baldwin gives no answer when asked if he's planning to testify in his "Rust" involuntary manslaughter trial. (Dario Alequin for Fox News Digital)
Hannah Gutierrez Reed requested to be released from prison pending the appeal of her involuntary manslaughter conviction, Fox News Digital can confirm.
The "Rust" armorer's legal team plans to appeal the jury instruction issues originally raised in a post-conviction motion, court documents obtained by Fox News Digital read.
"Ms. Gutierrez Reed is requesting to be released while she appeals, as if her appeal is successful, she will have served most or all of her sentence anyway, rendering a large part of the appeal meaningless," her lawyer, Jason Bowles, wrote. "She is not a danger to the community or a flight risk."
Hannah Gutierrez Reed has filed a motion requesting her release from prison pending appeal. (Courtesy: New Mexico Courts)
Gutierrez Reed worked on the "Rust" set where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot after a gun actor Alec Baldwin was holding discharged. Hutchins had been preparing a close-up shot when a gun Alec Baldwin was holding discharged.
A judge sentenced Gutierrez Reed to the maximum of 18 months after a jury convicted her of involuntary manslaughter earlier this year.
"For all the fanfare and pundits and finger-pointing that has been going on for over two years, we were able to seat a jury of her peers who confirmed that they could listen to the evidence received in court and determine the facts and apply the law," Sommer said before giving her ruling. "They found Ms. Gutierrez guilty of involuntary manslaughter."
Sommer slammed Gutierrez Reed's jailhouse calls, pointing out that the armorer spoke to someone about how "this is messing up her modeling career."
Hannah Gutierrez Reed looks over at her mom, Stacy Reed, as she is taken into custody on March 6. (Luis Sánchez Saturno - Pool/Getty Images)
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
"I find that what you did constitutes a serious, violent offense," Sommer said following the sentencing. "It was committed in a physically violent manner. A fatal gunshot done with your recklessness in the face of knowledge that your acts were reasonably likely to result in serious harm."
"You were the armorer, the one that's to be between a safe weapon and a weapon that could kill someone. You alone turned a safe weapon into a lethal weapon. But for you, Mrs. Hutchins would be alive, a husband would have his partner and a little boy would have his mother. Please take her."
Lawyers for Gutierrez Reed argued she qualified for no jail time due to her "lack of a criminal history," "personal character traits" and the armorer's young age.
Hannah Gutierrez Reed holds a gun on the set of "Rust." (Courtesy: New Mexico Courts)
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
Gutierrez Reed's motion for release pending appeal comes as Baldwin prepares for his own involuntary manslaughter trial.
Baldwin will head to court in July for his trial. Jury selection will begin July 9, according to New Mexico Courts. The trial is expected to last until July 19.
Baldwin's legal team has filed three separate motions to dismiss the indictment. A hearing on the first motion will be held virtually on May 17.
Alec Baldwin will be tried for involuntary manslaughter in July. (Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department)
