A New Mexico judge has rejected actor Alec Baldwin's request to dismiss the sole criminal charge against him in the fatal shooting incident that occurred on the set of the movie "Rust," paving the way for a trial this summer.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer upheld the indictment against Baldwin, charging him with one count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021. The defense had argued that prosecutors had violated the rules of grand jury proceedings by diverting attention from exculpatory evidence and witnesses, but the judge rejected these claims.

Special prosecutors strongly denied the defense's accusations and accused Baldwin of making "shameless" attempts to avoid responsibility. They pointed out inconsistencies in Baldwin's statements given to law enforcement, workplace safety regulators, and in a televised interview.

Friday's decision removes one of the last hurdles for prosecutors, allowing them to proceed with Baldwin's trial in July. The incident occurred during a rehearsal when Baldwin pointed a gun at Hutchins, and the weapon discharged, fatally injuring her and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin has maintained that he pulled back the gun's hammer but did not pull the trigger.

The actor has pleaded not guilty to the charge of involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 1.5 years in prison. In March, "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of a single count of involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins' death. Gutierrez-Reed was responsible for the weapons and ammunition on the film set. Prosecutors revealed that there were six live bullets, including the one that was fired from the prop gun Baldwin was holding.

Gutierrez-Reed has already been sentenced to serve 18 months in state prison. With the denial of Baldwin's motion to dismiss the charge against him, all eyes are now set on the upcoming trial's proceedings, which will bring further clarity to the tragic incident that unfolded on the set of "Rust."