The federal government filed a superseding indictment on Aug. 13 narrowing charges against Jonathan Rinderknecht in the 2025 Palisades Fire case. Prosecutors dropped the "timber set afire" count, leaving two federal counts: destruction of property by means of fire and arson affecting interstate commerce. The initial trial in June ended in a mistrial after jurors deadlocked (10 favored acquittal, 2 favored conviction). The January 2025 blaze killed 12 people, destroyed nearly 7,000 structures and burned over 23,000 acres.
Federal Prosecutors Refile Narrowed Indictment Against Suspect in 2025 Palisades Fire After Hung Jury
Jonathan Rinderknecht.Credit: Bill Essayli, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California/X
Federal prosecutors have returned with a narrower indictment against Jonathan Rinderknecht in the case surrounding the devastating Palisades Fire that began on Jan. 7, 2025. The superseding indictment, filed Aug. 13, drops one of the three counts charged at the earlier trial and seeks to retry Rinderknecht on two remaining federal counts.
What Was Filed
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California and reporting obtained by PEOPLE, the new indictment removes the "timber set afire" charge. Rinderknecht is now charged with:
- Destruction of property by means of fire
- Arson affecting property used in interstate commerce
Background: The First Trial
The defendant was first indicted in October 2025, roughly 10 months after the blaze began on Jan. 7, 2025. The original federal trial in early June included three counts: destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting interstate commerce, and timber set afire. After approximately two days of jury deliberation, the trial ended in a mistrial when jurors reported they could not reach a unanimous verdict — 10 jurors favored acquittal while two favored conviction.
A firefighter battles flames from the Palisades Fire on January 7, 2025Credit: Eric Thayer/Getty
Charges and Next Steps
With the timber-count dropped, prosecutors now proceed with the two remaining federal counts listed above. The U.S. Attorney's Office did not provide further comment beyond the filing. It remains unclear when the next trial or proceedings will be scheduled.
Defense Statement and Impact of the Fire
"Jonathan is innocent, and no charging modification will change that reality," Rinderknecht's attorney Steve Haney told PEOPLE on Aug. 14.
The Palisades Fire burned across Southern California for about a month and is counted among the state’s most deadly and destructive recent wildfires. A report from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection states the blaze killed 12 people, destroyed nearly 7,000 structures and consumed more than 23,000 acres.
Sources: U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California; PEOPLE; California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; reporting on jury deliberations.
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