29-year-old suspect in Palisades Fire arson case; accused of sparking a deadly blaze near Los Angeles.
The man accused of starting the Palisades fire in Los Angeles has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors say Jonathan Rinderknecht sparked a January 2025 blaze that killed 12 and destroyed thousands of homes; a June trial date has been set after a pre-trial memo outlines the defendant’s alleged state of mind and motives.
Prosecutors accuse Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht of starting the Palisades Fire, which killed 12 and destroyed thousands of homes in January 2025. He has pleaded not guilty. Jury selection is underway; defense argues he is being scapegoated for firefighting failures. Trial is expected to last about two weeks.