Jonathan Rinderknecht Faces 3 Felony Charges in Trial Over Fire That Killed 12
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 10
Jonathan Rinderknecht Faces 3 Felony Charges in Trial Over Fire That Killed 12
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 10
Summary
Opening statements were set to begin Wednesday in federal court for Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, accused of igniting the blaze that became the January 2025 Palisades fire.
Prosecutors say a Jan. 1 fire in the Santa Monica Mountains smoldered underground for a week before heavy winds drove it into Los Angeles' most destructive city fire.
Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty to three felony counts, including maliciously damaging federal property with fire, while his lawyers argue someone else set off the initial blaze with a firework.
Investigators have linked that earlier Lachman fire to the Palisades disaster, which killed 12 people and destroyed 6,833 structures in Pacific Palisades.
Judge Anne Hwang has limited defense efforts to present evidence alleging Los Angeles Fire Department negligence, leaving the trial unlikely to settle why the first fire was not fully extinguished.
Beyond one man's trial, did a toxic fire department culture allow LA's deadliest blaze to happen?
With arson science under scrutiny, can prosecutors prove who really started this destructive fire?
Is an arsonist to blame if fire department negligence let a small fire become a catastrophe?
The Palisades Fire Trial: Legal Stakes, Community Impact, and the Future of Wildfire Accountability in Los Angeles (2025–2026)
Overview
The trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, accused of starting the Lachman Fire that allegedly reignited as the devastating Palisades Fire, is underway as of June 2026, with jury selection having begun and opening statements expected soon. Rinderknecht faces three serious felony charges and could receive up to 45 years in prison if convicted. The prosecution claims he intentionally set the initial fire, while the defense disputes this and argues he is being scapegoated for possible fire department failures. However, Judge Anne Hwang has ruled that evidence about fire department negligence cannot be presented, shaping the direction and stakes of this high-profile case.