Judge Declares Mistrial in Palisades Fire Case

A federal judge has declared a mistrial concerning Jonathan Rinderknecht’s alleged involvement in starting a wildfire known as the Lachman Fire, which escalated into the significant Palisades Fire.

Los Angeles Judge Anne Huang announced the mistrial on Friday, stating, “Because the jury is deadlocked, the court finds a clear need to declare a mistrial.”

Rinderknecht was facing three felony charges, which he pleaded not guilty to. These included property damage by fire, arson involving interstate commerce, and wood arson.

According to investigators, the 30-year-old former Uber driver sparked the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. This fire lingered underground for a week until Santa Ana winds caused it to erupt into the Palisades Fire.

This devastating wildfire resulted in the deaths of 12 people, consumed over 23,000 acres, and destroyed about 6,500 structures, marking it as the most expensive fire in California’s history.

After 13 hours of deliberation, 10 out of 12 jurors reached a not guilty verdict, while two members maintained that Rinderknecht was guilty.

“The 10-2 result really reflects how the jury felt about this case, and we felt that way from the beginning,” defense attorney Steve Haney remarked following the announcement.

The prosecution presented over 30 witnesses during the trial, which lasted two and a half weeks. Rinderknecht’s defense brought forth several witnesses to counter the narrative of a man seeking revenge against affluent residents.

One local resident mentioned seeing teenagers walking away from the hillside near their home in an unusual manner around the fire’s onset. Additionally, a firefighter noted hearing sounds resembling fireworks near the site around midnight. Defense experts suggested that the New Year’s Eve fireworks likely caused the fire.

“There wasn’t enough evidence to say he started the fire, but, you know, I just didn’t understand why others seemed to evade consequences,” a juror commented. “That was a big part of why I felt ‘not guilty.’ The holdover theory didn’t resonate with me at all.”

Federal prosecutors are reportedly looking to conduct a retrial, though this has yet to be confirmed.

“There is strong evidence that Jonathan Rinderknecht was responsible for starting the January 1, 2025, fire that ultimately became the Palisades Fire. We intend to retry this case before a new jury and obtain a guilty verdict on all counts,” U.S. Attorney Bill Esseri stated.

Rinderknecht will remain in custody for now. If he faces conviction in a future trial, he could receive a minimum sentence of five years in federal prison, with a maximum potential sentence of 45 years.