After two intense days of deliberation, a federal jury revealed on Thursday that it is unable to reach a verdict in a critical arson case related to the January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles.
The jury informed U.S. District Judge Ann Huang that they couldn’t arrive at a unanimous decision regarding Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, who faces three federal arson charges, which include damaging property, arson of interstate commerce objects, and wood-related arson. Rather than declaring a mistrial, Judge Huang directed the jury to continue their deliberations on Friday.
Defense lawyer Steve Haney urged Judge Huang to issue an Allen charge, a legal strategy meant to encourage the jury to overcome their deadlock and reach a consensus. The case is built on a slow-burning fuse of accusations. Prosecutors allege that Rinderknecht intentionally ignited the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Day, which they claim smoldered underground before erupting into the more catastrophic Palisades Fire six days later.
Rinderknecht asserts his innocence, despite the possibility of facing up to 45 years in federal prison if found guilty. The government’s evidence includes surveillance videos, cell phone activity, and incriminating online searches, such as a ChatGPT inquiry into whether cigarettes can cause wildfires, just prior to the first smoke reports.
Witness accounts and interview transcripts describe Rinderknecht’s behavior leading up to the fire. Haney highlighted the absence of physical evidence linking Rinderknecht to the fire site, arguing that the prosecution couldn’t demonstrate that he caused the blaze. He claimed the Lachman and Palisades fires were distinct occurrences and that it was fireworks, not Rinderknecht, that ignited them.
Defense attorneys contended that Rinderknecht acted as a concerned bystander rather than a criminal, pointing out his multiple calls to 911 and his decision not to flee after the fire erupted. A defense witness shared that he heard an explosion nearby before observing four men leaving the area.
Earlier in the week, Judge Huang dismissed the defense’s motion to dismiss the charges after prosecutors presented expert testimony suggesting that the Palisades fire stemmed from the earlier Lachman fire. As previously noted, the Palisades fire resulted in 12 fatalities and the destruction of around 7,000 homes and structures.
