‘Midnight Rider’ assistant director sentenced to 10 years of probation

“Midnight Rider” assistant director Hillary Schwartz was sentenced to 10 years of probation on Tuesday after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass.

The news follows the hearing for director Randall Miller on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the film-set death of Sarah Jones, an assistant camera operator.

Jones, 27, was killed in February of 2014 after a train crashed into a set on a trestle during the first day of filming “Midnight Rider.” At least six other crew members were injured.

A member of the defense team said Monday that Schwartz was expected to agree to the plea deal.

As part of Schwartz’s probation, she was also sentenced to a $5,000 fine and restricted from acting as a director, assistant director, producer or any department head in charge of crew safety.

“Schwartz had cooperated fully with the State, and had agreed to provide testimony at the trial that was scheduled to take place beginning on Monday, March 9,” District Attorney Jackie Johnson’s office said in a statement.

Miller will serve his sentence of as long as two years in the Wayne County Detention Center in Jesup, Ga., followed by eight years’ probation. He was fined $20,000 and ordered to perform 360 hours of community service. As part of the deal, charges against Miller’s wife and business partner, Jody Savin, were dropped.

A third defendant, executive producer Jay Sedrish, was sentenced to 10 years’ probation. He is also prohibited from performing film-set work in which he would have responsibility for the safety of employees.

Staff writers Richard Verrier and David Zucchino contributed to this report.

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