Judge declares mistrial in arson case against man accused of sparking Palisades fire
Jurors in California deliberated for over 13 hours, before announcing that they were deadlocked
A federal judge declared a mistrial in the arson case against the 29-year-old man accused of sparking the deadly 2025 Palisades fire in Los Angeles, after the jury said it could not agree on a verdict.
Jurors deliberated for over 13 hours on Thursday on whether to convict Jonathan Rinderknecht on three federal charges, before announcing that they were deadlocked.
“The court finds there is a manifest necessity to declare a mistrial because the jury is deadlocked,” Judge Anne Hwang said on Friday, with 10 jurors set on a not-guilty verdict and two others determined to convict.
“We have people on both sides that are dead set, unwavering and unwilling to change their opinion,” a note from the jury read by the judge said.
Bill Essayli, the acting US attorney in Los Angeles, said his office intends to retry the case before a new jury.
“The evidence is strong that Jonathan Rinderknecht is responsible for igniting the fire on January 1, 2025, which eventually became the Palisades fire,” Essayli wrote on X. “We fully intend to retry this case before a new jury and obtain guilty verdicts on all charged counts.”
Rinderknecht’s attorney, Steve Haney, said the 10-2 split among jurors is “a pretty resounding indication” that his client is not guilty.
The Palisades fire scorched more than 23,000 acres in the affluent Palisades enclave last January, damaging more than 6,000 buildings and killing 12 people. The catastrophe thrust Los Angeles into the national eye, as images circulated of amber skies and mansions reduced to charred rubble.
Upon arresting Rinderknecht last year, law enforcement officials alleged the fire was a continuation of a brush fire lit by the former Uber driver on New Year’s Day 2025. Firefighters worked to suppress that smaller blaze, known as the Lachman fire, but its embers smoldered underground before resurfacing due to heavy winds, according to officials.
Rinderknecht was charged with three federal charges: arson, malicious destruction by means of a fire and timber set aflame.
During the trial, prosecutors described Rinderknecht as a troubled individual who turned to arson as a means of retribution against society for grievances including a failed romantic relationship and a disdain for wealth inequality.
Rinderknecht’s defense attorneys maintained their client was neither responsible for the Lachman fire nor the Palisades fire. The lawyers suggested he was a good Samaritan, presenting evidence of his 911 calls on 1 January regarding the Lachman fire.
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Rinderknecht told investigators he was drawn to a hiking trail in his old neighborhood by “nostalgia”, according to Courthouse News, and that he spotted the fire as he was departing down the hill.
Defense attorneys also argued the cause of that initial fire was fireworks, although the theory appeared to be undermined by conflicting witness testimony.
Robert Appleford, a firefighter for the Los Angeles fire department, said on the stand he heard pyrotechnics that holiday, while his captain, Dave Sanders, testified saying he did not, according to the Associated Press. Rinderknecht also previously told investigators the evening of the fire had been “unusually calm” and sans any firework noise, per Courthouse News.
Rinderknecht faced between five and 45 years of prison time.
Prosecutors had asked Hwang to tell the jury to deliberate longer, but she said there was a “risk of coercion” given how definitive the jury seemed. The jury had said there was nothing the court could do to help and that they were split on all three charges.
Thousands of Los Angeles residents whose property was destroyed or damaged are suing the city and state of California over what they regard as negligence in the emergency response.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
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The fact that jurors deliberated for over 13 hours on Thursday on whether to convict Jonathan Rinderknecht on three federal charges, before announcing that they were deadlocked really puts things into perspective.
Bill Essayli, the acting US attorney in Los Angeles, said his office intends to retry the case before a new jury. Meanwhile “The evidence is strong that Jonathan Rinderknecht is responsible for igniting the fire on January 1, 2025, which eventually became the Palisades fire,” Essayli wrote on X.
So the bottom line is jurors deliberated for over 13 hours on Thursday on whether to convict Jonathan Rinderknecht on three federal charges, before announcing that they were deadlocked. Wonder how this will land.
The fact that jurors in California deliberated for over 13 hours, before announcing that they were really puts things into perspective.
Jurors deliberated for over 13 hours on Thursday on whether to convict Jonathan Rinderknecht on three federal charges, before announcing that they were deadlocked. Meanwhile “We have people on both sides that are dead set, unwavering and unwilling to change their opinion,” a note from the jury read by the judge said.
Reading that bill Essayli, the acting US attorney in Los Angeles, said his office intends to retry the case before a new jury — hard to argue with the logic there.
On one hand “The evidence is strong that Jonathan Rinderknecht is responsible for igniting the fire on January 1, 2025, which eventually became the Palisades fire,” Essayli wrote on X. But at the same time jurors in California deliberated for over 13 hours, before announcing that they were.
On one hand “We have people on both sides that are dead set, unwavering and unwilling to change their opinion,” a note from the jury read by the judge said. But at the same time bill Essayli, the acting US attorney in Los Angeles, said his office intends to retry the case before a new jury.
Basically bill Essayli, the acting US attorney in Los Angeles, said his office intends to retry the case before a new jury. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
Basically jurors in California deliberated for over 13 hours, before announcing that they were. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
Reading that jurors deliberated for over 13 hours on Thursday on whether to convict Jonathan Rinderknecht on three federal charges, before announcing that they were deadlocked — hard to argue with the logic there.
Considering “The evidence is strong that Jonathan Rinderknecht is responsible for igniting the fire on January 1, 2025, which eventually became the Palisades fire,” Essayli wrote on X, it raises some real questions about what happens next.
Think about it: jurors in California deliberated for over 13 hours, before announcing that they were. That speaks volumes.
The detail about bill Essayli, the acting US attorney in Los Angeles, said his office intends to retry the case before a new jury is something people should sit with.
Hard to look at 12 people and not question the official narrative.