‘Rust’ film aide gets probation

“Rust” assistant director David Halls was sentenced to six months’ probation Friday for failing to check for live bullets before handing Alec Baldwin the gun with which he fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Halls looked solemn as he entered his no-contest plea and agreed to the various conditions set under his probation before New Mexico First Judicial District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer via teleconference.

The judge initially sentenced Halls to a six-month jail term but suspended it since the 63-year-old has agreed to testify in the coming criminal cases against Baldwin and set armorer Hannah GutierrezReed.

The October 2021 on-set tragedy unfolded when a live bullet was accidentally loaded into a pistol that was fired by Baldwin during a scene rehearsal at a Santa Fe church, striking and killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.

Halls pleaded no contest to petty misdemeanor negligent use of a deadly weapon. He agreed to take a firearms safety course within 60 days, pay a $500 fine and to not possess or consume alcohol or drugs without a prescription.