LOS ANGELES, June 27 (Our Los Angeles) — A federal judge in Los Angeles declared a mistrial Friday in the case of Jonathan Rinderknecht, who is charged with starting the fire that became the deadly Palisades Fire, after jurors said they could not reach a unanimous verdict.
U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang made the ruling after the 12-member jury reported it was split 10-2 in favor of acquittal, according to the courtroom proceedings. Jurors had deliberated for more than 13 hours.
Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty to three federal counts: destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and burning timber on public land. Prosecutors allege he used a barbecue lighter on Jan. 1, 2025, to spark a blaze that later grew into the Palisades Fire.
The fire erupted Jan. 7, burned more than 23,000 acres over more than three weeks and destroyed roughly 6,500 to nearly 7,000 structures, according to California fire officials cited in the case reporting. It killed 12 people.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said his office plans to retry the case. Defense attorney Steve Haney has said the jury split showed the government’s evidence was not strong enough to convict.
Hwang scheduled a retrial for Oct. 19 and ordered Rinderknecht held until then, according to the court proceedings.
