Updated on: March 4, 2026
The legal team representing Jonathan Rinderknecht, the alleged arsonist who prosecutors say “maliciously” started a blaze that turned into the Palisades Fire last January, says that the case should be dismissed in light of depositions from Los Angeles firefighters last week.
While speaking with CBS LA on Tuesday, Steven Haney, the defense attorney for Rinderknecht, said that both a letter and an email were sent to federal prosecutors, asking them to release his client and drop charges after firefighters with the Los Angeles Fire Department testified that there were still hotspots smoldering when crews left the scene of the Lachman Fire on Jan. 1, 2025, which rekindled and turned into the devastating Palisades Fire six days later.
Jonathan Rinderknecht was arrested on suspicion of starting the blaze that later became the Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people in January in Los Angeles.