Jonathan Rinderknecht, age 29, who was living in Florida at the time of his arrest, was charged with setting a fire along the hillside above the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. This fire, which quickly spread over 23,000 acres, became known as the Palisades Fire, which devastated Los Angeles in early 2025; the aftermath was dozens of deaths and thousands of destroyed structures.
Firefighters believe that the initial fire Rinderknecht set was only partly suppressed at the time and continued to smolder underground. In some cases, even if a fire appears to be out, it can continue to smolder underground through root systems and other vegetation.
Prosecutors contend that locating data, which was tracked via Rinderknecht’s cell phone, placed him only 30 ft from the initial fire. There were also records of 911 calls that Rinderknecht made, which included details that he could have only known by being there. Prosecutors also cite Rinderknecht’s strange behavior, as several of his Uber passengers (Rinderknecht was working as an Uber driver at the time) described him as agitated and angry.
Rinderknecht, who was a former resident of the Pacific Palisades area, was charged with destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and setting timber afire. At his trial, Rinderknecht pleaded not guilty. His lawyer contends that the absence of a criminal record and documented mental-health issues suggests that he is not guilty. Additionally, his defense maintains that blaming him for the entirety of the Palisades Fire would be unfair, as he only started the initial, smaller fire. If convicted, Rinderknecht faces the possibility of up to 45 years in federal prison.
