Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed's maximum sentence of 18 months is 'a bad ... trends now

Alec Baldwin may be sweating heavily after Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed's maximum sentence Monday ahead of the star and producer'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 death 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. 

'[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

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