"Midnight Rider" director Randall Miller has reached a plea deal that will avoid trial and absolve his wife and business partner, Jody Savin, in the filming set train wreck that killed crew member Sarah Jones, the Associated Press reported.
The 27-year-old Jones died in February 2014 while working on a Jesup film set. A scene in the movie about rocker Gregg Allman was situated on a train trestle where filmmakers did not have permission to be.
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Credit: Jennifer Brett
Credit: Jennifer Brett
In pleading guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespassing, Miller received a sentence of two yeas in jail and eight on probation, in addition to a $20,000 fine, the AP reported.
Prosecutors agreed to drop charges against Savin, the AP reported.
Executive producer Jay Sedrish also pleaded guilty and got 10 years on probation. Charges are still pending against a fourth "Midnight Rider" defendant, assistant director Hillary Schwartz, the AP reported.
A statement issued on their behalf at the time said a confidential agreement had been reached between Richard and Elizabeth Jones and Unclaimed Freight Productions, Inc.; Randall Miller; Jody Savin; Charles Baxter; Jay Sedrish; Jay Sedrish, Inc.; Don Mandrik; Hillary Schwartz; Mike Ozier; Epozier Films, Inc.; and Rayonier Performance Fibers, LLC."
“There were no winners today. Randall Miller’s sentencing in the case involving the tragic death of IATSE Local 600 camera assistant Sarah Jones is nothing to be happy about. But the quick conclusion to the case does provide some small sense of closure following last year’s tragedy, and helps continue the healing process for Jones’ family, friends, and fellow crew members.
We cannot comment on the specifics of the legal proceedings, but we hope this sentencing sends a message to everyone in the industry that the safety measures already in place must be followed at all times. No movie or TV show is worth a life, which is why Safety on Set is our highest priority as a union.
We hope this message gets out to everybody in production -- from student or low-budget films to major productions -- and that workers recognize their rights to a safe set and safe working conditions at all times. We also hope all crew members will now feel empowered to speak out against unsafe working conditions. That’s why we developed our new safety app that includes the industry-wide safety bulletins and safety hotline numbers. We encourage workers to remember the spirit of Sarah and exercise those rights.”
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