Prosecutors narrow their case ahead of the retrial of the man accused of setting the Palisades fire
Prosecutors cut the case to two charges after a mistrial, and a retrial is set for the fall as they seek to prove the fire was intentional.
- Prosecutors filed a revised indictment Thursday against Jonathan Rinderknecht, the man accused of causing the Palisades Fire, removing one previous count and redefining the remaining two charges.
- The "first superseding indictment" charges Rinderknecht with igniting the Jan. 1 Lachman Fire and causing damage from the Jan. 7 Palisades Fire, which destroyed more than 6,800 buildings.
- During the first trial in June, a mistrial was declared after Ten out of 12 jurors favored acquittal. Defense attorneys argued that Prosecutors lacked direct evidence and failed to consider fireworks as a potential cause.
- District Judge Anne Hwang is holding a status conference for an arraignment on Wednesday. Rinderknecht is due in court next week, with His retrial scheduled for September.
- Throughout the first trial, Federal Prosecutors argued Rinderknecht was motivated by anger toward wealthy people and presented recorded interviews and a digital trail showing he acted alone on New Year 2025.
38 Articles
38 Articles
Arson suspect in Palisades Fire faces 1 less criminal charge in revised indictment ahead of retrial
The man accused of setting a blaze that grew into the deadly Palisades Fire, the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history, is facing one less criminal charge, with federal prosecutors obtaining a revised indictment in the case.
Alleged Palisades Fire arsonist faces new indictment after mistrial in initial case
Federal prosecutors are making another attempt to prosecute Jonathan Rinderknecht, the man accused of causing a blaze that became the Palisades Fire, after a judge declared a mistrial.
Prosecutors Revise Charges Against Palisades Fire Arson Suspect
The man accused of setting a blaze that grew into the deadly Palisades Fire, the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history, was facing one less criminal charge Friday, with federal prosecutors obtaining a revised indictment in the case. In June, a federal court jury deadlocked 10-2 in favor of acquitting Jonathan Rinderknecht on three arson-related charges stemming from the 2025 firestorm, which prosecutors say began on New Year’s Day as the …
Charges against Palisades Fire arson suspect revised
LOS ANGELES (KESQ) - The man accused of setting a blaze that grew into the deadly Palisades Fire, the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history, was facing one less criminal charge today, with federal prosecutors obtaining a revised indictment in the case. In June, a federal court jury deadlocked 10-2 in favor of acquitting The post Charges against Palisades Fire arson suspect revised appeared first on KESQ.
Hanford Sentinel
Feds revamp charges against Palisades arson suspect after mistrial
LOS ANGELES — Prosecutors this week unveiled a new indictment against the man accused of igniting last year’s deadly fire in the Palisades, nixing one of the three original charges and revising the other two after a mistrial in federal…
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