The jury in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, accused of starting the destructive Palisades Fire, declared an inability to reach a unanimous verdict on Thursday, leading to a mistrial.
Jurors informed the court they had initially reached a decision around 2 p.m. but subsequently indicated they were at a standstill just 30 minutes later. The court, in response to the jury's reported impasse, asked if they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict on each of the three charges, instructing them not to reveal vote counts. The jury's reply confirmed, "We cannot reach a unanimous verdict on any of the charges."
U.S. District Court Judge John L. Johnson ordered the jury to return Friday at 9 a.m. for further instructions.
Rinderknecht, 30, faces three felony counts in connection with the blaze, which prosecutors allege he intentionally started. He was indicted last October on charges of destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire. These charges stem from the Lachman Fire, ignited on New Year's 2025, which was extinguished by firefighters only to reignite underground and ultimately spark the Palisades Fire a week later.
Prosecutors contend Rinderknecht used a green Bic lighter, found in his vehicle weeks after the fire, to ignite the blaze on a hiking trail he frequented in the Pacific Highlands. The Palisades Fire, which burned uncontrollably starting January 7, 2025, resulted in the destruction of 7,000 homes and businesses, caused an estimated $150 billion in damages, and led to 12 fatalities.
Steve Haney, Rinderknecht's attorney, has argued that his client is being made a scapegoat by city leadership. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was overseas in Ghana when the fire began, despite wind warnings issued in the preceding days.
[U.S. Attorney's Office via AP]
