Palisades Fire arson suspect pleads not guilty to new, reduced charges following mistrial

Jonathan Rinderknecht, accused of sparking the blaze that became the devastating Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, pleaded not guilty in federal court on Wednesday to two arson counts after a mistrial ended his first trial. The 29-year-old’s attorney said the new charges differ from the earlier indictment, which included two arson counts plus a third charge tied to timber allegedly set on fire; that count was dropped. The first arson charge was also modified to reference only the Lachman Fire, which broke out Jan. 1, 2025. Prosecutors argue that Santa Ana winds rekindled embers near the same location, and say they will retry the case for guilty verdicts.