Jury deadlocked in federal arson trial of Palisades Fire suspect

A federal jury in Los Angeles has reported a deadlock in the arson case against 30-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, who is charged with setting the fire that later became the Palisades Fire. The trial, which began after the blaze destroyed thousands of structures and killed 12 people, had previously been described by the court as having reached a verdict before the jurors indicated they were unable to agree.

Prosecutors presented evidence that Rinderknecht ignited a small brush fire on New Year’s Eve 2024, which later spread under strong Santa Ana winds. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danbee Kim told jurors that the defendant believed “the Pacific Palisades neighborhood represented” broader societal grievances.

"Rinderknecht had a deeply entrenched belief that the wealthy were destroying the world," Kim said during closing arguments.

The defense argued that no direct evidence linked Rinderknecht to the initial fire. Attorney Steven Haney contended that the prosecution’s case relied on fragmented evidence and that "the prosecution showed you fragments. You don't convict people on fragments."

Rinderknecht faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted on three arson counts, including destruction of property by fire and arson affecting interstate commerce. The prosecution’s case included testimony from witnesses such as Andy Leonard, owner of a Malibu restaurant destroyed in the blaze, as well as forensic analysis of fire dynamics, video surveillance, cell-phone data, and a green Bic lighter found in the defendant’s rented vehicle.

The defense called an arson specialist who suggested fireworks could have started the fire, and a retired sheriff’s detective who questioned whether the incident qualified as arson at all. Certified fire investigator Derek Hill testified that investigators had considered but dismissed the fireworks theory early in the inquiry.

The jury’s inability to reach a unanimous decision means the court will schedule further proceedings to determine the next steps in the case.