Alec Baldwin hit with involuntary manslaughter following the murder of Halyna Hutchins. He faces the possibility of 18 years in jail
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed who played the armorer in the movie "Rust," was also accused of two counts of involuntary murder.
The attorney for Alec Baldwin called the accusations the charges a "terrible miscarriage of justice" in a statement sent to Fox News Digital.
"This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins' tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice," Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel said.
Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun - or anywhere on the movie set. He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds.
Hutchins family members expressed their gratitude to the sheriff's department and the DA when the charges were released.
New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced her charges on Thursday over an entire year since Hutchins tragic death.
If Baldwin is found guilty of a crime, he could face an up-to 18 month sentence of prison.
"Baldwin has a strong defense case, and I can see him pushing the case to trial for legal and public relations reasons," said the judge. "He has to think about his acting career in addition to doing time. But if he rolls the dice and loses at trial, the judge may hammer him for causing Hutchins' death."
The district attorney stated the fact that Baldwin as well as Gutierrez-Reed are "charged in the alternative." The jury will not decide only whether the two defendants are guilty but will also determine which the definition of manslaughter involuntary the actions of each fall under.
"If any one of these three people - Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed or David Halls - had done their job, Halyna Hutchins would be alive today. It's that simple," Andrea Reeb the special prosecutor chosen by the DA to investigate the case made a statement in an official statement.
Prior to announcing the decision the district attorney's office took time looking over a thorough report prepared from the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office.