Prosecutors in New Mexico dismissed charges filed against actor Alec Baldwin, for the accidental shooting of a movie cinematographer in 2021. Mr. Baldwin was facing reckless homicide charges, a felony offense carrying a 1 to 5 year prison term in New Mexico. Special prosecutors dismissed the charges “without prejudice”, in light of new evidence that the gun fired by Baldwin may have been altered. If the firearm had indeed been altered, it would seriously undermine the prosecutor’s contention that the gun fired was fully functioning. When a case is dismissed “without prejudice”, the prosecution then has the right to re-file charges. However, criminal charges are rarely re-filed unless new evidence supporting the charges comes to light.
Federal Prosecutors Try to Limit Remedies for Compassionate Release in Plea Agreements
In federal court, many people who are accused of crimes face very steep sentences. Those steep penalties give federal prosecutors plenty of leverage when it comes to obtaining guilty pleas. But now, some federal prosecutors are even taking things a step further, by...
