LOS ANGELES, June 27 (Our Los Angeles) — A federal judge in Los Angeles declared a mistrial June 26 in the arson case against Jonathan Rinderknecht, after jurors said they could not agree on whether he started the fire prosecutors say became the Palisades Fire.
The jury told Judge Anne Hwang it was split 10-2 in favor of acquittal, according to the court proceeding. Hwang ended the trial and set a retrial for Oct. 19, keeping Rinderknecht in custody until then.
Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty to three federal counts, including destruction of property by means of fire and arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, along with a third timber-related count.
Prosecutors allege he used a barbecue lighter on Jan. 1, 2025, to spark a fire in the Pacific Palisades that later reignited and became the larger blaze. California fire officials said the Palisades Fire erupted Jan. 7, burned more than 23,000 acres over more than three weeks and destroyed roughly 6,500 to nearly 7,000 structures.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said his office plans to retry the case. Defense attorney Steve Haney said the jury split showed the government’s evidence was not strong enough to convict Rinderknecht.
