Randall Miller, the director of the troubled Gregg Allman biopic “Midnight Rider”, pleaded guilty Monday to involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespassing charges from a February 2014 train crash that killed a camera assistant and injured six film workers.
CBS News reports Miller will spend two years in the county jail and another eight on probation as part of the plea deal, and he’ll also pay a $20,000 fine.
In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped charges against his wife and business partner, Jody Savin.
A third defendant, executive producer Jay Sedrish, also pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespassing on Monday but avoided jail time. He will be allowed to serve 10 years of probation from his home in California.
Based on Gregg Allman’s 2012 biography “My Cross To Bear”, “Midnight Rider” was set to tell the story of Gregg's journey from struggling artist through the formation and subsequent success of The Allman Brothers Band, which saw the musician succumb to the excesses of rock 'n' roll.
27 year-old camera assistant Sarah Jones was killed and six crew members were injured on February 20, 2014 when a freight train crashed into the crew as they were filming a scene on a historic train trestle in Doctortown, Georgia. Jones was struck by the train and debris from a bed that had been placed on the track for a dream sequence involving actor William Hurt.
Production on the film was shut down following the tragic incident.
Lead actor William Hurt – who was to play the present day version of the rock legend – backed out of the project. The film was also scheduled to star Tyson Ritter - the lead singer/songwriter of the All American Rejects – as a young Gregg, and Wyatt Russell as his brother Duane.
Gregg Allman will launch a spring US tour this Friday, March 13 in Northfield, OH.
See also:
Gregg Allman announces spring tour
Gregg Allman biopic producer pleads not guilty to manslaughter charges
Gregg Allman biopic producers charged with manslaughter in crew death
Gregg Allman cancels solo tour after being hospitalized
Search The Allman Brothers at hennemusic
