The accomplice who handed the gun to Alec Baldwin is guilty

Dave Halls, the first assistant on the set of “Rust,” was sentenced Friday after a plea deal with a six-month suspended sentence.

Actor-producer Alec Baldwin’s first assistant director on the movie “Rust” who accidentally killed a cameraman was given a six-month suspended prison sentence on Friday.

It was the first conviction in the case for negligent use of a deadly weapon.

It was this first assistant, Dave Halls, who on October 21, 2021 handed Alec Baldwin a weapon to be loaded with blank bullets, which the actor activated, killing Halina Hutchins and injuring director Joel Sosa.

Dave Halls, 63, gave him the weapon, telling him it wasn’t “cool” or dangerous in Hollywood parlance.

Accused but not yet convicted

Alec Baldwin and the gunman, Hannah Gutierrez-Reid, were both charged with manslaughter and face up to 18 months in prison and $5,000 in fines.

The police investigation focused specifically on determining how live ammunition could have been found in this shooting at a ranch in New Mexico, which is strictly prohibited, precisely to avoid accidents.

Police have determined that Hannah Gutierrez-Reid put ammunition in the gun used by Alec Baldwin instead of a dummy bullet.

During Friday’s hearing in a New Mexico court, attorney Gary Morrissey estimated that Dave Halls, who also served as the security coordinator for the low-budget shoot, formed the “last line of defense.” on the gun to make sure they are empty.

Alec Baldwin, 64, best known for his “30 Rock” series, always said he was assured his weapon was harmless.

By pleading guilty Friday, Dave Halls agrees to testify in the matter in the future.