LOS ANGELES, June 27 (Our Los Angeles) — A federal judge in Los Angeles declared a mistrial Friday in the case of Jonathan Rinderknecht, who is charged with starting the fire that became the deadly Palisades Fire, after jurors said they could not reach a unanimous verdict.
U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang declared the mistrial after the 12-person jury reported it was split 10-2 in favor of acquittal, according to the court proceeding. Hwang also set a tentative retrial date of Oct. 19 and ordered Rinderknecht held until then.
Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty to three federal counts: destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and burning timber on public land.
Prosecutors allege Rinderknecht used a barbecue lighter on Jan. 1, 2025, to start a fire that later reignited and became the Palisades Fire. Defense attorney Steve Haney has said the government did not prove that allegation and argued the evidence was not strong enough to convict.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said his office plans to retry the case.
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7, 2025, burned more than 23,000 acres over more than three weeks, and destroyed roughly 6,500 to nearly 7,000 structures, according to California fire officials. The blaze killed 12 people.
