LOS ANGELES — A federal judge declared a mistrial Friday in the arson case against a man accused of sparking the deadly 2025 Palisades Fire in Los Angeles after jurors said they could not reach a verdict.
U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang declared the mistrial in Los Angeles federal court after the jury deadlocked following more than 13 hours of deliberations over two days. The panel was split 10-2 in favor of acquittal on all counts, according to court statements.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 30-year-old former Uber driver from Florida, faced three federal charges: destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire. Prosecutors alleged he maliciously started the Lachman Fire on New Year's Eve 2024, which held over and reignited days later into the Palisades Fire in January 2025.
The Palisades Fire became one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history, causing multiple deaths and destroying numerous homes in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. Details on the exact number of casualties and structures lost remained as reported in prior official accounts.
During the trial, which lasted about 10 days, prosecutors presented witness statements, video surveillance, cell phone data and fire analysis to link Rinderknecht to the initial blaze. Defense attorneys argued there was insufficient evidence connecting him to the fires and that he was not responsible for the larger Palisades Fire.
“The court finds there is a manifest necessity to declare a mistrial because the jury is deadlocked,” Judge Hwang said, declining prosecutors’ request for further deliberations due to concerns about potential coercion.
Rinderknecht has pleaded not guilty. It was not immediately clear whether federal prosecutors plan to retry the case.
The mistrial marks the latest development in the federal case stemming from the 2025 Southern California wildfires, which included the concurrent Eaton Fire. The proceedings had drawn significant attention amid ongoing concerns over wildfire prevention and arson enforcement in the region.
Court officials said a detention hearing for Rinderknecht was scheduled following the mistrial declaration. No further trial date has been set.
