Man Accused of Sparking Palisades Fire Pleads Not Guilty to Revised Federal Arson Charges

Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, has pleaded not guilty to revised federal arson charges accusing him of igniting a small blaze on Jan. 1, 2025 that prosecutors say later grew into the deadly Palisades Fire.

Rinderknecht entered the plea on Aug. 19 before U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang in the Central District of California. He faces two felony counts: one count of destruction of property by fire and one count of arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, according to court filings and press reports.

Allegations: Prosecutors contend Rinderknecht, a former Uber driver who lived in Melbourne, Fla., intentionally started the so-called Lachman Fire on a hiking trail on Jan. 1, 2025. Portions of that blaze were never fully extinguished, and investigators say wind-driven embers later sparked the much larger Palisades Fire on Jan. 7, 2025. The Palisades Fire is blamed for roughly a dozen deaths, the destruction of more than 6,000 structures and the burning of over 23,000 acres — making it one of California’s most destructive wildfires.

Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a home on Jan. 7, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, CaliforniaCredit: Eric Thayer/Getty

Defense Response: At the hearing, defense attorney Steven Haney denied that Rinderknecht intentionally set the fire. Haney told the court he believes fireworks — not arson — started the initial flames and said Rinderknecht repeatedly tried to contact emergency services. According to the defense, when Rinderknecht finally reached 911 he reported the fire from the bottom of the hiking trail. Haney argued that it would be "self-destructive and idiotic" for his client to start a fire and then continuously call authorities and wait for help to arrive.

Prosecutors' Case: Prosecutors have pointed to witness accounts and circumstantial evidence. They say Rinderknecht was working as an Uber driver on the night of Dec. 31, 2024; two passengers who rode with him separately between roughly 10:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. later told investigators they observed him appearing agitated. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also cited testimony that Rinderknecht listened to rap music containing lyrics about setting things on fire and that initial attempts to call 911 failed because of cell service issues. When he ultimately connected, a nearby resident had already alerted authorities, prosecutors say.

Rinderknecht was arrested in Florida about nine months after the fires began. His first criminal trial, which began in early June, ended in August when jurors deadlocked on all counts and a mistrial was declared. Reports indicate 10 jurors favored acquittal while two voted to convict. The government has since revised the charges, and a retrial is scheduled to begin Nov. 2.

Rinderknecht's Attorney: "Jonathan is innocent, and no charging modification will change that reality," Haney said in a public statement. "I think their case still is going to be incredibly difficult to win."

The investigation and prosecutions surrounding the Palisades Fire remain high-profile because of the scale of destruction and loss of life. Both sides are preparing for the upcoming retrial, where prosecutors must prove intent and causation beyond a reasonable doubt.