Film director pleads guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 2 years in prison

Hollywood film director Randall Miller was sentenced Monday in Jessup, Ga., to two years in prison and eight years’ probation following a guilty plea to charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass.

In February of last year, Miller, the director of "Bottle Shock," was directing a scene on a railroad bridge in rural Georgia for his latest film “Midnight Rider” about Allman Brothers guitarist Gregg Allman when an unexpected train passed through the location set. The film crew reportedly had only seconds to react to the oncoming train, which struck and killed 27-year-old camera assistant Sarah Jones.

Miller’s defense said the crew had obtained permission to film at the location from the landowner, Rayonier Inc., but prosecutors said the film crew was denied permission to do so from the company that owns the train tracks, CSX Transportation.

Miller had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to the Washington Post. As part of the plea agreement, the same charges leveled against Miller’s wife and business partner, Jodi Savin, were dropped. Executive producer Jay Sedrish also pleaded guilty Monday and was sentenced to 10 years’ probation.

Read more from the Washington Post.