Federal Jurors Begin Questioning in Palisades Fire Retrial
Jonathan Rinderknecht faces two reduced arson counts in the second attempt to prosecute the man accused of starting the fire that killed 12 people in January 2025.
By Javier Sanders ·
Prospective jurors began answering questions at the downtown federal courthouse on Monday. The panel will decide the fate of Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 30-year-old man accused of starting the fire that destroyed much of Pacific Palisades and Malibu. This is the second trial for Rinderknecht, who has pleaded not guilty to two federal arson counts.
The first trial ended in a mistrial in June after a jury deadlocked 10-2 in favor of acquitting Rinderknecht. The initial indictment included three counts, but prosecutors dropped one charge in a superseding indictment. The two remaining charges are destruction of property by means of fire and arson affecting property used in interstate commerce. The first charge now focuses specifically on the alleged starting of the Lachman Fire, rather than both the Lachman and Palisades fires.
U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang ordered that the retrial proceed without reference to the previous proceedings. Rinderknecht remains in federal custody. Three separate judges determined he is a danger to the community. This decision relied on evidence that he hid a firearm in a teddy bear and threatened to burn down his sister's house in Florida.
The fire in question began on New Year's Day 2025. Prosecutors call this initial blaze the Lachman Fire. They state it started in a remote area near the Summit neighborhood. Firefighters quickly suppressed the visible flames, but the fire continued to smolder underground within the roots of dense vegetation. On January 7, 2025, Santa Ana winds re-ignited the underground fire. This event became the Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people and burned 23,448 acres. The disaster destroyed approximately 6,500 structures and caused billions of dollars in damage.
During the first trial, prosecutors called more than 30 witnesses. They presented video surveillance, cell phone data, and fire dynamics analysis. The evidence was largely circumstantial. Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht used a grill lighter to ignite vegetation around midnight on December 31, 2024. They said he was driven by anger, loneliness, and a desire for revenge against the wealthy.
Defense attorney Steven Haney argued that the Lachman and Palisades fires were separate events. He told jurors that the initial fire was likely caused by fireworks from New Year's Eve. Haney stated that Rinderknecht, a part-time Uber driver, was on a trail near the Hidden Buddha clearing. He claimed his client did nothing more than call 911 to report the blaze. Haney noted that the fire could have started before Rinderknecht arrived at the scene.
Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, vowed to win a conviction in the retrial. In a post on X, Essayli wrote that the evidence strongly shows Rinderknecht is responsible for igniting the fire on January 1, 2025. He stated, "We fully intend to retry this case before a new jury and obtain guilty verdicts on all charged counts."
Haney countered that the previous jury's 10-2 vote was a clear message that the government lacked sufficient proof. He said prosecutors "failed miserably" in their first attempt. "If they want to re-try it again, we can re-try it again," Haney said. He added that if Essayli wants to cheerlead, he should try the case himself next time. Haney predicted the retrial would likely end in another acquittal.
