LOS ANGELES, June 27 (Our Los Angeles) — A federal judge in Los Angeles declared a mistrial Friday in the arson case against Jonathan Rinderknecht after jurors said they could not reach a unanimous verdict.
Judge Anne Hwang said the panel remained deadlocked 10-2 in favor of not guilty after more than 13 hours of deliberations, according to the jury notes read in court. Hwang set a retrial for Oct. 19 and ordered Rinderknecht held in custody 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 he 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 present enough evidence tying a lighter or accelerants to Rinderknecht.
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7, 2025, burned more than 23,000 acres and destroyed thousands of structures in Pacific Palisades, according to California fire officials. The blaze killed 12 people, according to the case background presented in court.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said his office plans to retry the case before a new jury.
