Federal prosecutors refile narrowed indictment against Palisades Fire suspect
A revised federal indictment has been filed against Jonathan Rinderknecht, reducing the charges to two counts tied to the Lachman and Palisades fires.
Federal prosecutors have submitted an amended indictment against 30-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, eliminating one of the original three felony charges and concentrating on two alleged arsons. The first charge relates to the Lachman Fire ignited around midnight on New Year’s Day 2025 along a Pacific Palisades Highlands trail, while the second alleges he caused the subsequent devastation when the blaze reignited as the Palisades Fire.
The filing comes less than two months after a mistrial, where jurors could not reach a verdict and voted 10-2 for acquittal. Rinderknecht will appear for a status conference next week, and his retrial is slated for September. Prosecutors cite cellphone data, surveillance video, and a green Bic lighter found in his car, whereas defense lawyer Steve Haney argues the case relies on speculation and lacks proof that the initial fire sparked the larger disaster. The Palisades Fire ultimately destroyed roughly 7,000 structures, caused about $150 billion in damage, and claimed 12 lives.
Why it matters
The case determines accountability for a fire that caused massive loss of life and billions in damage.
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