Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed's maximum sentence of 18 months is 'a bad sign for Alec Baldwin' expert warns - as the actor's trial draws near

Alec Baldwin may be sweating heavily after Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed's maximum sentence on Monday, ahead of the star's criminal trial in July.

Gutierrez-Reed, the primary weapons handler on the set of the ill-fated indie film Rust, was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison for the fatal, on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. 

She was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March by a jury, making her the first crewmember to be convicted in the accidental shooting of Hutchins by actor Alec Baldwin, 66.

Baldwin's criminal trial is set to begin on July 10, after a grand jury indicted him for involuntary manslaughter back in January.

Legal analyst and personal injury attorney Miguel Custodio says that could be 'bad news' for the 30 Rock star, who faces the same sentence if found guilty. 

Alec Baldwin takes a walk in New York on April 8

Rust armorer Hannah Guttierez-Reed was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison for the involuntary manslaughter of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

The expert said that Baldwin's best bet is taking a plea deal - but doubts that will be the actor's legal strategy.  

'[It] shows the court is taking this fatal shooting seriously and that it's not just for show as his defenders claim,' Custodio said. 

'A plea deal would be the best strategy for him right now, considering today's sentencing, and the information the prosecution has about the chaos on the set and Baldwin's failure to do anything about it. But I don't see that happening,' he added.

Baldwin has consistently maintained his innocence, but Guttierez-Reed's attorneys claim the environment he created on set led to Hutchins' death. 

'[He] may think that he will have an easier time if he believes that his team can convince a jury to see that the only culpable party has already been convicted,' Custodio added. 

'That's a risky proposition, given Baldwin's role as a producer actually involves him in all aspects of the production. Potential jurors will clearly know what went on with Gutierrez-Reed and will really scrutinize Baldwin's lack of responsibility for the chaos on the set.'

Baldwin has denied pulling the trigger and said he had been directed to aim the weapon at the camera. FBI and private firearms experts determined the gun would not have fired without the trigger being pulled.

He has repeatedly attempted to get the charges against him dropped, most recently in the direct aftermath of Guttierez-Reed's guilty verdict. 

It was reported last year that Hutchins' widower, Matthew Hutchins, will testify against Baldwin at his criminal trial.

In July, prosecutors will make the case that Baldwin, who was a producer on the doomed film, shares responsibility for Hutchins' tragic end. 

Legal analyst and personal injury attorney Miguel Custodio says that could be 'bad news' for the 30 Rock star, who faces the same sentence if found guilty

Baldwin has consistently maintained his innocence, but Guttierez-Reed's attorneys claim the environment he created on set led to Hutchins' death

The judge said the Rust armorer was given the length of her sentence because of her failure to show remorse

'We know prosecutors will frame their case around Baldwin overseeing the chaos and not doing anything about it, yet knowing that Gutierrez-Reed was relatively inexperienced and overwhelmed,' the co-founder of of Custodio & Dubey LLP said.

'And still he decided to not bring anyone else in, or to make any other personnel changes. This morning she herself said she lacked the proper resources and staffing, and tried to do the job anyway.'

His attorneys have said he had no ability to regulate his emotions in the weeks leading up the shooting and was pressuring the crew to work quickly and 'routinely compromised safety.' 

The legal analyst also notes that it will be the same judge and community prosecuting him on the same facts. 

Hutchins was killed when Baldwin pointed his gun at the cinematographer and cocked the weapon as she set up a scene.

Gutierrez-Reed cried as her fate was read aloud to her in court today by a judge who reprimanded her for her apparent lack of remorse.

'Your attorney had to tell the court you were remorseful,' said Judge Mary Marlow Sommer. 

The onset weapons professional, who is the step-daughter of Thell Reed - an esteemed Hollywood gun trainer - was sentenced by New Mexico District Court Judge Sommer.

Halyna Hutchins, 42, was a mother-of-one and up-and-coming cinematographer when she was fatally shot on the set of the Alec Baldwin-produced indie Western 'Rust'

Alec Baldwin, Halyna Hutchins and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed appear in this photo of the cast and crew of Rust

The infamous gun fired on set that ended up killing cinematographer Hutchins

Attorneys for Gutierrez-Reed requested she be given a sentence of probation, but prosecutors argued for the 18-months due to an apparent lack of remorse from the defendant.

Judge Sommer sided with the prosecutors, delivering the full recommended sentence to Gutierrez-Reed after it was pointed out that she had called jurors 'idiots' and said the judge had been 'paid off' during phone calls she made from jail.

She also continued to blame Baldwin and others on set and on the production team for the shooting.