the firearm enhancement to the involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of elena hutchins on the rust film set. adding that, quote, the prosecutions priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big city attorneys while that is a strong statement coming out, and we had experts on our nursing that they felt as though, this was an overcharged case. , now we know that alec baldwin, he said he plans to fight these charges. he will not be taking a plea deal, offered any plans to see this through to a trial. , but again, this is something that is constantly developing. we do know that alec baldwin and other members of the film are planning, the spring, to finish the movie because some of the money was going to go to elena hutchins widower, matthew hutchins. it looks like that is still on track to happen, but, again this is ever evolving. and we will make sure to keep you posted. back to you. and we thank chloe for that
here is more from new york. reporter: it is incredibly significant that the new mexico district attorney s office announced on monday that they no longer plan to charge alec baldwin with the firearm enhancement charge. he still faces two counts of involuntary manslaughter. each charge carrying up to 18 months in prison. but know that this firearm enhancement charge is no longer on the table, he no longer faces potentially five years. same goes for the armorer who also faces two counts of involuntary manslaughter. we reached out for comment. and i want to read you a part of the statement from district attorney s office that reads, quote, in order to avoid further litigious distractions by mr. baldwin and his attorneys, the district attorney and special prosecutor have removed the firearm enhancement to the
jacqui: fox news alert, actor alec baldwin handed a major win in the case of the deadly movie set shooting. the santa fe county d.a. dropped the original charges after the cinematographer was killed with a gun. he says he did not know it was loaded and didn t know it was his job to check. matt finn is live in los angeles with the breaking details for us. matt. jacqui, last month the santa fe district attorney announced the office was going to charge alec baldwin with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of huctchins. and one firearm enhancement could have landed him in prison up to six and a half years if convicted. but now, the new mexico d.a. s office confirms to fox news the
firearm enhancement in the second charge against baldwin has been dropped, meaning baldwin could face much less, if any prison time if convicted. in a statement to fox news, the new mexico d.a. office writes in part, in order to avoid further distractions by mr. baldwin and his attorneys, the district attorney and the special prosecutor have removed the firearm enhancement to the involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of halyna hutchins. it s for the process, not big billable hours. earlier this month, they said it was unlawful in baldwin s case. at the time of the fatal shooting, the new mexico law require a suspect display a firearm with the intent to intimidate or injure, but he brandished it for the movie