Alec Baldwin sends message by skipping first court appearance in fatal 'Rust' shooting: legal expert

foxnews.com:

Alec Baldwin pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection to the death of Halyna Hutchins on Thursday. Hutchins died on Oct.

21, 2021, after a gun that Baldwin was holding fired on the set of "Rust." The actor also waived his first appearance, which legal experts explained is a "routine court proceeding." "By waiving his first appearance in court, he's sending a signal that this is a case that really ought not be taken seriously, even though it is obviously an extremely serious case.

He's facing a great deal of prison time," criminal defense attorney and former state prosecutor Duncan Levin told Fox News Digital. "It's just a case that absolutely was overcharged in every way." Levin has previously served as the defense attorney for celebrities including Harvey Weinstein, Anna Delvey and Clare Bronfman. "This is a routine court proceeding in a case that is anything but routine," he continued. "The case itself is insane from start to finish.

And I think that everybody watching it is scratching their heads about why these charges are being brought in the first place." Levin, who is not involved in the case, further claimed that the prosecution would "absolutely have not" brought charges in this case if the defendant was someone other than Baldwin. "Prosecuting Alec Baldwin for his role in what is an unfortunate accident is clearly the cause of his celebrity and the prosecution's desire to bring some attention to what they think is an important issue." What's next?