Federal prosecutors are taking one other crack on the man accused of sparking the devastating Palisades Hearth — however this time, they’re narrowing the case.
Prosecutors filed a revised indictment Thursday in opposition to Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, dropping one of many three felony counts he beforehand confronted and reshaping the remaining expenses round two separate fires.
The primary depend accuses Rinderknecht of igniting the Lachman Hearth on New Yr’s Day 2025. The second alleges that he brought about the destruction that adopted when the blaze was reignited days later because the catastrophic Palisades Hearth.
The transfer comes lower than two months after Rinderknecht’s first trial led to a shocking mistrial, with jurors deadlocked 10-2 in favor of acquittal.
Jurors have been unable to achieve a verdict regardless of being despatched again to deliberate, with the foreman finally telling the choose there was nothing the courtroom may do to assist them attain an settlement.
Rinderknecht is due again in courtroom subsequent week for a standing convention, along with his retrial scheduled for September.
Federal prosecutors allege Rinderknecht deliberately began the Lachman Hearth round midnight on New Yr’s Day alongside a climbing path within the Pacific Palisades Highlands as a result of he was annoyed along with his place in society and offended at rich folks.
The federal government’s case at trial centered on cellphone information, surveillance footage and Rinderknecht’s conduct after the hearth. Prosecutors stated he had visited the path “lots of of occasions” and allegedly used a inexperienced Bic lighter later present in his automotive.
Rinderknecht repeatedly referred to as 911 after the blaze erupted.
“There’s a hearth, there’s a hearth,” Rinderknecht could possibly be heard saying within the 911 name. “There’s a hearth a prime of Pacific Palisades Highland.”
Whereas chatting with the dispatcher, he additionally screen-recorded himself asking ChatGPT, “Are you at fault if a hearth is lit due to your cigarettes.”
However his protection crew argued prosecutors by no means proved he began the preliminary blaze — or that the Lachman Hearth brought about the inferno that tore via Pacific Palisades every week later.
“There isn’t any proof that he began the hearth. That is all circumstantial,” lawyer Steve Haney stated.
Haney additionally argued there was no conclusive proof that embers from the primary fireplace survived underground and later reignited amid highly effective winds.
The Palisades Hearth finally destroyed about 7,000 houses and companies, brought about an estimated $150 billion in harm and killed 12 folks.
Rinderknecht’s first trial additionally uncovered juror skepticism concerning the authorities’s case. One juror, Syrena of Lompoc, instructed The California Publish prosecutors didn’t make a convincing case.
“It’s disappointing due to how a lot time and money they put into the identical factor. I don’t know … however like, yeah, bullsh–t,” she stated.
The revised indictment now places the 2 fires on the coronary heart of Rinderknecht’s upcoming retrial.
