Jury Deadlocked in Federal Trial Over 2025 Palisades Fire

A federal jury in Los Angeles reported that deliberations on the case of former Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht have reached a standstill, with jurors on both sides unwilling to change their positions. U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang asked the panel whether additional instructions or a rereading of testimony might assist them, and all parties agreed to seek a solution before a short recess.

Rinderknecht, 30, is charged with three federal offenses, including arson affecting interstate commerce and destruction of property by fire, for allegedly igniting a blaze on Jan. 1, 2025 that later merged into the larger Palisades Fire. He has pleaded not guilty and faces a potential sentence of up to 45 years in prison.

Prosecutors presented surveillance footage, cellphone data and digital searches that placed Rinderknecht at the ignition point shortly before the Jan. 1 fire, known as the Lachman Fire, was reported. They also cited testimony from a passenger who described his behavior as erratic during an Uber ride on New Year’s Eve.

"On Jan. 1, 2025, Jonathan Rinderknecht started a fire on a hill in the Pacific Palisades," prosecutor Danbee C. Kim said in closing statements.

The defense, led by attorney Steve Haney, argued that the government has not produced sufficient evidence to convict. Haney emphasized that no accelerants were found, the fire scene was not secured promptly, and witnesses testified that the Lachman and Palisades fires were separate incidents. He also suggested that fireworks, not Rinderknecht, could have ignited the Jan. 1 blaze.

"This case is not about whether fire happened. It’s about cause and integrity," Haney told the jury.

Federal prosecutor Mark Williams countered the defense’s motion to dismiss, noting that expert testimony contradicted the claim that the fires were unrelated. An arson expert testified that multiple 911 calls made by Rinderknecht after the Jan. 1 fire indicated he was not attempting to conceal wrongdoing.

The trial continues with both sides awaiting a resolution that will allow the jury to move forward.