Key facts
- A jury in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, accused of starting the 2025 Palisades Fire, declared itself deadlocked.
- Jurors were unable to reach a unanimous decision on the three federal charges: arson, malicious destruction by fire, and timber set aflame.
- The jury indicated that members were "dead set, unwavering and unwilling to change their opinion."
- Judge Anne Hwang declared a mistrial after the jury's deadlock.
- The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California plans to retry the case against Rinderknecht.
A federal judge declared a mistrial in the arson case against Jonathan Rinderknecht, accused of sparking the deadly 2025 Palisades Fire, after the jury could not reach a unanimous decision on three felony counts. Jurors deliberated for over 13 hours before informing Judge Anne Hwang that they were deadlocked, with 10 jurors set on a not-guilty verdict and two determined to convict. The jury indicated they were "dead set, unwavering and unwilling to change their opinion."
The Palisades fire scorched more than 23,000 acres, damaging over 6,000 buildings and killing 12 people. Prosecutors allege Rinderknecht, a former Uber driver, started the fire as retribution, while his defense attorneys argued he was a good Samaritan and suggested fireworks were the cause of an initial blaze.
Judge Hwang stated there was a "risk of coercion" if deliberations continued. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California announced its intention to retry the case against Rinderknecht, who has pleaded not guilty and has been incarcerated for 10 months.