Palisades Arson Suspect to Be Arraigned on Revised Indictment
Prosecutors say the revised indictment narrows the first arson count to the Lachman Fire as the case heads toward an October retrial.
- Jonathan Rinderknecht pleaded not guilty Wednesday in District Court to revised federal arson charges, facing two felony counts related to the Palisades Fire that destroyed about 6,800 structures in Pacific Palisades.
- Prosecutors allege the deadly Palisades Fire was a "holdover" fire — a continuation of the Lachman Fire ignited on New Year's Day 2025. Heavy Santa Ana winds caused the smoldering underground blaze to resurface and spread six days later, killing 12 people and burning 23,448 acres.
- A federal jury deadlocked 10-2 in favor of acquittal during the first trial, prompting a mistrial. Prosecutors subsequently filed a new indictment narrowing the case from three felony counts to two, focusing solely on the initial Lachman Fire ignition.
- Judge Anne Hwang set the retrial for November 2 in Los Angeles District Court. Rinderknecht remains in federal custody pending trial, with Assistant US Attorney Mark Williams estimating the case will take 5 to 8 days.
- Defense attorney Steven Haney argued prosecutors "failed miserably" in their initial case, insisting there is "no direct evidence" linking his client to the fire. Haney maintains the retrial will not produce a different outcome despite prosecutors' determination to secure convictions.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Palisades Fire Suspect Pleads Not Guilty to Revised Arson Charges
The man accused of starting the Palisades Fire that destroyed thousands of homes in January 2025 pleaded not guilty to revised federal arson charges against him. Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, is accused of starting a fire along a hiking trail above Pacific Palisades on Jan. 1, 2025. The fire was not fully extinguished. Prosecutors allege that the small fire, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, grew into the Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people and …
Retrial for Palisades arson suspect moved to November
LOS ANGELES (KESQ) - A retrial for the man accused of setting a blaze that grew into the deadly Palisades Fire, the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history, was moved today from October to the beginning of November. Earlier this year, a federal court jury deadlocked 10-2 in favor of acquitting Jonathan Rinderknecht The post Retrial for Palisades arson suspect moved to November appeared first on KESQ.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 30-year-old Franco-American Uber driver, is accused of having caused a fire declared on the night of New Year 2025, causing the death of 12 people.
California arson suspect pleads not guilty again after stunning mistrial - The Boston Globe
Rinderknecht now faces felony charges of one count of destruction of property using fire — specifically the Lachman fire — and one of arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, which relates to both the Lachman and Palisades fires.
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