Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was in charge of the weapons used on the set, was sentenced to 18 months in prison during the verdict hearing held in New Mexico state court regarding the shooting of the cinematographer during the filming of the movie "Rust" starring actor Alec Baldwin.
Gutierrez-Reed was convicted by a jury in March of manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and has been in prison for more than a month.
Baldwin, the film's lead actor and co-producer, was pointing a gun at Hutchins when it discharged, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
"Baldwin, who pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, is expected to stand trial in July.
Gutierrez-Reed, who was in charge of weapons on the set, was accused by the prosecution of inadvertently bringing live ammunition onto the set of "Rust" when it was expressly prohibited and of failing to follow basic gun safety protocols.
After a two-week trial, the jury deliberated for nearly three hours to reach its verdict.
Gutierrez-Reed could not hold back tears as Hutchins' manager Craig Mizrahi spoke of the cinematographer's creativity and described him as a rising star in Hollywood during Monday's hearing.
Prosecutor requests designation as 'serious violent offender'
Friends and family, including director Souza, told the court they were seeking justice for what happened to the cinematographer.
Defense lawyers asked for leniency in sentencing, including possible parole, which would prevent him from serving more time in prison if certain conditions are met, and to have the criminal conviction expunged from his record.
Gutierrez-Reed was acquitted of charges of tampering with evidence in the "Rust" investigation. He also pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of allegedly carrying a gun into a bar where firearms are prohibited.
His lawyers emphasized Gutierrez-Reed's "relatively young age and the devastating impact a felony offense could have on his life in the future."
They said that Gutierrez-Reed, 26, would be forever negatively affected by the intense media attention due to his parallel trial with a high-profile actor, and that he suffers from anxiety, fear and depression as a result.
Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey described the defendant's behavior on the set of "Rust" as extremely reckless, urging the judge to impose the maximum prison sentence and designate Gutierrez-Reed as a "serious violent offender" to limit his eligibility for a reduced sentence later.
Morrissey told the judge on Monday that he had reviewed nearly 200 phone calls Gutierrez-Reed made from prison over the course of a month and hoped there would be a moment when the defendant would take responsibility for what happened or express genuine remorse.
"That moment never came, and Gutierrez continues to refuse to accept responsibility for his role in the death of Halyna Hutchins," Morrissey said.
First person to receive a prison sentence in Hutchins' death
Last year, Dave Halls, co-director and safety coordinator of "Rust", pleaded not guilty to negligent handling of a firearm and completed a six-month probationary sentence.
Sarah Zachry, who had responsibility for firearms on set, signed a deal with prosecutors to avoid prosecution in exchange for her cooperation.
Sean Kridelbaugh, a childhood friend of Gutierrez-Reed's, testified in an affidavit to the court that she cried constantly because of her remorse over the shooting and that further incarceration would hinder her efforts to care for a relative with cancer. Other friends and former colleagues also urged the judge to emphasize rehabilitation over punishment.
