Federal retrial begins for man accused in Palisades fire

Crime · First reported 2 Nov, 11:07 · Updated 11:52

Image: Wikimedia Commons · NASA Johnson Space Center / Jonny Kim · Public domain

Jonathan Rinderknecht is facing a federal retrial over allegations that he started a brush fire that later grew into the deadly Palisades fire. Jury selection was due to begin Monday in downtown Los Angeles.

Federal prosecutors accuse Jonathan Rinderknecht of starting the fire that grew into the January 2025 Palisades wildfire; he has pleaded not guilty.
His first trial ended with a hung jury: two jurors voted to convict and 10 voted not guilty.
Jury selection for the federal retrial was set to begin Monday in downtown Los Angeles.

Summary written by Lux AI from 2 articles

Key facts

Defendant: Jonathan Rinderknecht
First-trial outcome: Hung jury; two voted to convict and 10 voted not guilty
Fire date: January 2025
Deaths reported: 12
Retrial location: Downtown Los Angeles
Jury selection: Set to begin Monday