Movie armorer on Alec Baldwin's film 'Rust' pleads guilty to gun charge in separate case

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The weapons supervisor in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin on the set of the Western film “Rust" pleaded guilty Monday to a separate criminal charge of carrying a gun into a licensed liquor establishment.

Movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed agreed to change her plea to guilty on the charge in exchange for a reduced sentence of 18 months supervised probation.

Judge T. Glenn Ellington approved the agreement that allows Gutierrez-Reed to begin probation while serving out an 18-month prison term at a New Mexico state penitentiary for involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

In the “Rust” case, prosecutors blamed Gutierrez-Reed for unwittingly bringing live ammunition onto the movie set and for failing to follow basic gun safety protocols.

Gutierrez-Reed shuffled into the Santa Fe courtroom Monday in a beige jumpsuit, handcuffs and ankle shackles to change her plea to guilty and waive her right to trial.

“I'd just like to apologize to the court and thank you for your judgment today,” she said.

The case stems from evidence that a few weeks before “Rust” began filming in October 2021, Gutierrez-Reed carried a gun into a downtown bar in Santa Fe where firearms are prohibited.

Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey said Gutierrez-Reed filmed herself in the bathroom of the bar with a handgun — explaining how she snuck in the prohibited firearm in a video that was obtained when authorities searched the armorer's phone during the “Rust” investigation.

Gutierrez-Reed was convicted in March at trial of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Hutchins. She has an appeal of that conviction pending in a higher court.

Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer for “Rust,” was pointing a gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal for the film when the revolver went off, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.

In July, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed an involuntary manslaughter case against Baldwin halfway through a trial based on the withholding of evidence by police and prosecutors from the defense. Morrissey has since asked the judge to reconsider.

Under terms of her plea agreement, Gutierrez-Reed is prohibited while on probation from possessing firearms, consuming alcohol or drugs and must pay $180 in fees while submitting a sample of her DNA to a criminal database and completing an addiction treatment program.

Defense attorney Jason Bowles said the agreement makes it possible for Gutierrez-Reed to be released from prison as soon as June 2025 to complete probation in Arizona without getting an additional felony conviction on her record.

Before being led away, Gutierrez-Reed blew kisses toward the court gallery where her mother, Stacy Reed, was seated.

Reed said she was grateful her daughter can begin to fulfill new parole requirements prior to release from prison.

“She’s not gotten a fair shake from the beginning,” said Reed, who traveled from Arizona for the hearing.

Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey answers a question from Judge T. Glenn Ellington during the plea hearing for Hannah Gutierrez-Reeds, the weapons supervisor on the set of the Western film “Rust," at the First Judicial District Courthouse in Santa Fe, N.M., Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (Gabriela Campos/Santa Fe New Mexican via AP, Pool)

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor on the set of the Western film “Rust," right, sits beside paralegal Carmella Sisneros at the start of her plea hearing at the First Judicial District Courthouse in Santa Fe, N.M., Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (Gabriela Campos/Santa Fe New Mexican via AP, Pool)

Judge T. Glenn Ellington speaks to Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor on the set of the Western film “Rust," and her lawyer Jason Bowles during a plea hearing at the First Judicial District Courthouse in Santa Fe, N.M., Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (Gabriela Campos/Santa Fe New Mexican via AP, Pool)

Jason Bowles, attorney for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor on the set of the Western film “Rust," addresses Judge T. Glenn Ellington during Gutierrez-Reeds' plea hearing at the First Judicial District Courthouse in Santa Fe, N.M., Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (Gabriela Campos/Santa Fe New Mexican via AP, Pool)

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor on the set of the Western film “Rust," steps forward to address Judge T. Glenn Ellington during a plea hearing at the First Judicial District Courthouse in Santa Fe, N.M., Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (Gabriela Campos/Santa Fe New Mexican via AP, Pool)

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor on the set of the Western film “Rust," center, speaks to Judge T. Glenn Ellington during her plea hearing at the First Judicial District Courthouse in Santa Fe, N.M., Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. (Gabriela Campos/Santa Fe New Mexican via AP, Pool)

Movie armorer on Alec Baldwin's film 'Rust' pleads guilty to gun charge in separate case

FILE - Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, center, with her attorney Jason Bowles, left, and paralegal Carmella Sisneros, right, prepare for a sentencing hearing in state district court in Santa Fe, N.M., April 15, 2024. (Eddie Moore/The Albuquerque Journal via AP, Pool, File)

Movie armorer on Alec Baldwin's film 'Rust' pleads guilty to gun charge in separate case

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has resolved the latest civil lawsuit filed against him by a woman claiming sexual assault and battery.

The plaintiff's lawyer, Tony Buzbee, said in a text message to The Associated Press on Monday night that his client's claim against Watson has been settled confidentially.

Buzbee had threatened to have his client speak to the NFL, which had opened an investigation against Watson. It's not yet known if Watson will face any further discipline from the league.

A league spokesman declined comment in an email to AP.

The QB was suspended for the first 11 games in 2022 for violating the league's personal conduct policy after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage therapy sessions.

Watson was also fined $5 million and had to undergo mandatory evaluation before he was reinstated by the league.

The new lawsuit was filed on Sept. 9 in Harris County, Texas. The unidentified woman alleged Watson had sexually assaulted her in 2020 while on a dinner date in her apartment. She was seeking damages in excess of $1 million.

Watson, who in his third season with Cleveland after being acquired in a controversial trade from Houston, had strongly denied the allegations.

The 29-year-old has previously settled nearly two dozen civil lawsuits.

Watson's career with Cleveland has not gone like he or the team had hoped after the Browns signed him to a $230 million contract. He made just six starts last season before fracturing a bone in his right shoulder during a game and undergoing surgery.

He's struggled in the Browns' new offense this season to the point that coach Kevin Stefanski was asked after a loss on Sunday against Washington if he will bench Watson, who has yet to throw for 200 yards in a game this season.

Stefanski said he's sticking with the QB and reiterated that during a Zoom call on Monday.

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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scrambles against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) break away from Washington Commanders defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) looks to pass under pressure from Washington Commanders defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis (98) during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)