‘Midnight Rider’ producers plead not guilty to charges

“Midnight Rider” filmmakers Randall Miller and his wife, Jody Savin, pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass in the death of a 27-year-old camera assistant.

Sarah Jones, a second camera assistant, was struck by a train and killed on the set of the Gregg Allman biopic in February. Six others were injured in the incident, which occurred on a railway trestle near Jesup, Ga.

Miller and Savin were indicted by a Georgia grand jury on July 2. They turned themselves over to authorities on Sunday, where they were booked and released after posting a bond of $27,000 each.

The couple announced the not-guilty pleas Thursday in a statement issued by their lawyer, Don Samuel.

“In the weeks and months that follow when the true facts of the events are revealed, people will know that this was not a crime: we never had criminal intent; we would never knowingly or intentionally put anybody’s safety at risk,” the couple said in the statement. “This was a horrible tragedy and a horrific accident.”

The couple said they have been in the TV and movie business since 1990 and produced and directed more than 10 features and TV films.

“We have always emphasized the safety of the crew,” they said. “We believe in protecting our crew...we consider them to be family.”

The couple said they remained silent on the issue out of respect for the family of Jones and others who were injured on set that day.

“This devastating loss of Sarah, a young crew member who was just starting out with us, will haunt us forever,” they said. “Our hearts are broken, our spirits are broken.”

Samuel told the Los Angeles Times that the trial is most likely going to begin in early 2015.

“It’s a very small county,” he said in a phone interview. “It’s going to be troublesome finding a jury so we may have a change of venue and that always delays things.”

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