Federal judge declares mistrial in arson case against Palisades Fire suspect

A federal judge in Los Angeles declared a mistrial Friday in the arson case against 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, the man charged with igniting the fire that later became the Palisades Fire. The jury, after 13 hours of deliberation over two days, was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the three federal counts of arson, malicious destruction by fire and timber set aflame, with ten jurors favoring acquittal and two favoring conviction.

The jury’s written note said members were "dead set, unwavering and unwilling to change their opinion" and that they were split on all charges. Prosecutors had asked Judge Anne Hwang to extend deliberations, but she declined, citing a "risk of coercion" given the jury’s firm positions.

After the jury was dismissed, one juror, identified only as Syrena, told reporters she believed there was insufficient evidence that Rinderknecht started the initial fire and expressed disappointment that the panel could not reach a conclusion. Defense attorney Steve Haney described the vote split as a "pretty resounding indication" of his client’s innocence.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said federal prosecutors "fully intend to retry this case" and asserted that "the evidence is strong that Jonathan Rinderknecht is responsible for igniting the fire on January 1, 2025, which eventually became the Palisades fire." Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty. The trial, which began June 8, featured eight days of testimony from investigators, experts and witnesses. The Palisades Fire later killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in Pacific Palisades and Malibu.