Judge declares mistrial in arson case against man accused of sparking Palisades fire
✓A federal judge declared a mistrial in the arson case against the 29-year-old man accused of sparking the deadly 2025 Palisades fire in Los Angeles, after the jury said it could not agree on a verdict.
Jurors deliberated for over 13 hours on Thursday on whether to convict Jonathan Rinderknecht on three federal charges, before announcing that they were deadlocked.
“The court finds there is a manifest necessity to declare a mistrial because the jury is deadlocked,” Judge Anne Hwang said on Friday, with 10 jurors set on a not-guilty verdict and two others determined to convict.
“We have people on both sides that are dead set, unwavering and unwilling to change their opinion,” a note from the jury read by the judge said.
The Palisades fire scorched more than 23,000 acres in the affluent Palisades enclave last January, damaging more than 6,000 buildings and killing 12 people. The catastrophe thrust Los Angeles into the national eye, as images circulated of amber skies and mansions reduced to charred rubble.
Upon arresting Rinderknecht last year, law enforcement officials alleged the fire was a continuation of a brush fire lit by the former Uber driver on New Year’s Day 2025. Firefighters worked to suppress that smaller blaze, known as the Lachman fire, but its embers smoldered underground before resurfacing due to heavy winds, according to officials.
Rinderknecht was charged with three federal charges: arson, malicious destruction by means of a fire and timber set aflame.
During the trial, prosecutors described Rinderknecht as a troubled individual who turned to arson as a means of retribution against society for grievances including a failed romantic relationship and a disdain for wealth inequality.
Rinderknecht’s defense attorneys maintained their client was neither responsible for the Lachman fire nor the Palisades fire. The lawyers suggested he was a good Samaritan, presenting evidence of his 911 calls on 1 January regarding the Lachman fire.
Rinderknecht told investigators he was drawn to a hiking trail in his old neighborhood by “nostalgia”, according to Courthouse News, and that he spotted the fire as he was departing down the hill.
Defense attorneys also argued the cause of that initial fire was fireworks, although the theory appeared to be undermined by conflicting witness testimony.
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Robert Appleford, a firefighter for the Los Angeles fire department, said on the stand he heard pyrotechnics that holiday, while his captain, Dave Sanders, testified saying he did not, according to the Associated Press. Rinderknecht also previously told investigators the evening of the fire had been “unusually calm” and sans any firework noise, per Courthouse News.
Rinderknecht faced between five and 45 years of prison time.
Prosecutors had asked Hwang to tell the jury to deliberate longer, but she said there was a “risk of coercion” given how definitive the jury seemed. The jury had said there was nothing the court could do to help and that they were split on all three charges.
It wasn’t immediately clear if federal prosecutors would move to retry the case.
Thousands of Los Angeles residents whose property was destroyed or damaged are suing the city and state of California over what they regard as negligence in the emergency response.
The Associated Press contributed.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗
A federal judge declared a mistrial in the criminal case against Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old former Uber driver, after jurors could not reach agreement on three federal arson charges related to the January 2025 Palisades fire in Los Angeles. The jury deliberated for more than 13 hours before reporting a deadlock: 10 jurors favored acquittal while 2 sought conviction. Judge Anne Hwang determined the jury was too polarized to continue deliberations. The case centered on whether Rinderknecht ignited a brush fire (the Lachman fire) on New Year's Day whose underground embers, disturbed by heavy winds, reignited to cause the larger Palisades fire. The Palisades fire destroyed over 23,000 acres and more than 6,000 buildings, resulting in 12 deaths. Prosecutors characterized Rinderknecht as motivated by personal grievances; his lawyers argued he was neither responsible for either fire and pointed to his 911 calls on January 1st as evidence of good-faith action. Whether prosecutors will retry the case has not been determined.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗
A federal judge declared a mistrial in the arson case against the 29-year-old man accused of sparking the deadly 2025 Palisades fire in Los Angeles, after the jury said it could not agree on a verdict.
Jurors deliberated for over 13 hours on Thursday on whether to convict Jonathan Rinderknecht on three federal charges, before announcing that they were deadlocked.
“The court finds there is a manifest necessity to declare a mistrial because the jury is deadlocked,” Judge Anne Hwang said on Friday, with 10 jurors set on a not-guilty verdict and two others determined to convict.
“We have people on both sides that are dead set, unwavering and unwilling to change their opinion,” a note from the jury read by the judge said.
The Palisades fire scorched more than 23,000 acres in the affluent Palisades enclave last January, damaging more than 6,000 buildings and killing 12 people. The catastrophe thrust Los Angeles into the national eye, as images circulated of amber skies and mansions reduced to charred rubble.
Upon arresting Rinderknecht last year, law enforcement officials alleged the fire was a continuation of a brush fire lit by the former Uber driver on New Year’s Day 2025. Firefighters worked to suppress that smaller blaze, known as the Lachman fire, but its embers smoldered underground before resurfacing due to heavy winds, according to officials.
Rinderknecht was charged with three federal charges: arson, malicious destruction by means of a fire and timber set aflame.
During the trial, prosecutors described Rinderknecht as a troubled individual who turned to arson as a means of retribution against society for grievances including a failed romantic relationship and a disdain for wealth inequality.
Rinderknecht’s defense attorneys maintained their client was neither responsible for the Lachman fire nor the Palisades fire. The lawyers suggested he was a good Samaritan, presenting evidence of his 911 calls on 1 January regarding the Lachman fire.
Rinderknecht told investigators he was drawn to a hiking trail in his old neighborhood by “nostalgia”, according to Courthouse News, and that he spotted the fire as he was departing down the hill.
Defense attorneys also argued the cause of that initial fire was fireworks, although the theory appeared to be undermined by conflicting witness testimony.
after newsletter promotion
Robert Appleford, a firefighter for the Los Angeles fire department, said on the stand he heard pyrotechnics that holiday, while his captain, Dave Sanders, testified saying he did not, according to the Associated Press. Rinderknecht also previously told investigators the evening of the fire had been “unusually calm” and sans any firework noise, per Courthouse News.
Rinderknecht faced between five and 45 years of prison time.
Prosecutors had asked Hwang to tell the jury to deliberate longer, but she said there was a “risk of coercion” given how definitive the jury seemed. The jury had said there was nothing the court could do to help and that they were split on all three charges.
It wasn’t immediately clear if federal prosecutors would move to retry the case.
Thousands of Los Angeles residents whose property was destroyed or damaged are suing the city and state of California over what they regard as negligence in the emergency response.
The Associated Press contributed.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗
A federal judge declared a mistrial after a jury deadlocked 10-2 on three federal charges against Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29. The jury deliberated for over 13 hours before announcing they could not agree on a verdict. The three federal charges were arson, malicious destruction by means of fire, and timber set aflame. The Palisades fire burned more than 23,000 acres, damaged more than 6,000 buildings, and killed 12 people in January 2025. Law enforcement alleged Rinderknecht lit a brush fire (the Lachman fire) on New Year's Day 2025 whose smoldering underground embers were disturbed by heavy winds and resurfaced to ignite the larger Palisades fire. Prosecutors described Rinderknecht as troubled and motivated by grievances including a failed romantic relationship and disdain for wealth inequality. Rinderknecht's defense attorneys maintained he was not responsible for either fire and presented evidence of his 911 calls on January 1st. The defense suggested the initial fire was caused by fireworks, though this theory was contradicted by conflicting witness testimony about whether pyrotechnics were heard that evening. It was not immediately clear whether federal prosecutors would move to retry the case.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗
- A federal judge declared a mistrial in the arson case against Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, after a jury deadlocked 10-2 on whether he sparked the 2025 Palisades fire in Los Angeles.
- The jury deliberated for over 13 hours on three federal charges: arson, malicious destruction by fire, and timber set aflame.
- The Palisades fire burned over 23,000 acres, damaged more than 6,000 buildings, and killed 12 people in January 2025.
- Prosecutors alleged Rinderknecht lit a smaller brush fire (Lachman fire) on New Year's Day whose embers resurfaced in heavy winds to spark the larger fire; the defense maintained he was not responsible and presented 911 call evidence.
- It remains unclear whether federal prosecutors will retry the case.