Attorneys are assessing their options after a jury declared itself deadlocked on charges against Jonathan Rinderknecht, who is accused of starting the devastating 2025 Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. After two days of deliberations, the jury informed Judge Anne Hwang on Thursday that they could not reach a unanimous decision on any of the three federal charges.
This development came as a surprise, as the jury had indicated earlier in the day that a consensus had been reached. Jurors informed the court, "We have people on both sides that are dead set, unwavering and unwilling to change their opinion. We are at a standstill. We are unsure how to proceed."
Judges typically do not declare mistrials until all avenues for resolving jury deadlock have been exhausted. Judge Hwang offered the jury further instructions or to re-read testimony, but the jurors declined. She confirmed that the split was across all three charges: arson, malicious destruction by means of a fire, and timber set aflame.
Rinderknecht pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecutors allege that Rinderknecht started an initial fire on January 1, 2025, which smoldered undetected before reigniting a week later. The Palisades Fire subsequently erupted on January 7, burning through neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and Malibu and resulting in 12 fatalities.
The trial, which commenced on June 8, included extensive testimony from investigators, experts, and witnesses. Although direct evidence linking Rinderknecht to the initial blaze was absent, prosecutors presented evidence placing him in the area and described him as angry and erratic on the night the fire began, suggesting frustration with the wealthy and powerful as a potential motive. The defense, however, proposed that fireworks were a more probable cause of the fire.
Prosecutors suggested the judge provide additional arguments to encourage further deliberation, an approach opposed by Rinderknecht's attorneys. The defense also proposed an Allen charge, a more forceful instruction urging a hung jury to continue efforts toward an agreement. Both legal teams requested the jury return on Friday to allow more time to plan their next actions.
Rinderknecht, who has been in custody for 10 months, expressed significant anxiety during the proceedings, according to his attorney, Steve Haney. His father, brother, and sister were present in court when the jury announced its deadlock.