‘Midnight Rider’ Director Pleads Guilty For The Death Of Sarah Jones, Executive Producer Won’t Get Jail Time

Midnight Rider director Randall Miller has reversed his not guilty plea, and instead has decided to plead guilty just as his trial was about to begin for the murder of camera assistant Sarah Jones.

According to Variety, Miller was sentenced to 10 years in jail for involuntary manslaughter, but will only serve two years because this was his first charge. Additionally the director will have to perform 360 hours of community service, as well as pay $25,000 during his probation period.

Miller’s wife, producer Jody Savin and executive producer Jay Sedrish pleaded not guilty to the involuntary manslaughter of Sarah Jones. The last minute deal worked out ahead of the trial waved the charged against Miller’s wife. Producer Sedrish will have to undergo 10 years of probation and pay $10,000. He’s also not allowed to direct a film or participate in a role on set that would risk any employees life.

Ahead of the trial, Judge Anthony Harrison said he hopes the sentence he doled out for Miller sends an important message. “Hopefully this will bring some meaning to this tragedy.”

As the Inquisitr reported, back in November director Randall Miller, his wife and producer Jody Savin had reached an agreement in the ongoing lawsuit for the wrongful death of Sarah Jones. At the time the producers and the director still faced involuntary manslaughter charges.

Midnight Rider, a story that was centered around Greg Allman’s life was being shot in Georgia when Sarah Jones’ life was taken from her. At the time Jones and other members of production were setting up a bed on a train trestle. Production member weren’t aware that a train was scheduled to run through the area, and members of production were forced to run for cover. Jones scrambled to move the expensive equipment off of the track when the train hit the bed, which then sprung her in front of the train.

It’s said that the responsible parties did not take the proper precautions to protect the staff.

Sarah Jones’ family released a statement on the results of the trial. According to Variety, Sarah’s father, Richard Jones told reporters, “We do call for the movie industry to examine themselves and this myth of a cinematic bubble that does not exist. We did feel the prosecutor had a very good case, that there would have been a conviction. I certainly hesitate to use the word ‘happy.’ There’s no happiness here at all. We are content with the result.”