Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, has been charged with three felonies related to the Palisades fire in Los Angeles that resulted in over a dozen deaths. Arrested on October 7, he allegedly started a fire in Temescal Canyon on New Year’s Day, leading to the most destructive wildfire in L.A. history, which burned 23,400 acres and destroyed over 6,800 buildings. Initially charged with criminal damage to property, he was later indicted on additional counts of arson affecting interstate commerce.
The fire began as a smaller blaze called the Luckman Fire and reignited days later due to embers smoldering in dense vegetation. Prosecutors claim Rinderknecht maliciously ignited the fire after working as an Uber driver. Evidence against him includes witness testimonies, video footage, and AI-generated images found on his phone.
Rinderknecht, whose family lives in France, was living in Florida but is expected to be arraigned soon in California. If convicted, he faces a minimum of five years and up to 45 years in prison. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Fire Department is under scrutiny for its handling of fire conditions prior to the Palisades fire.
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