LOS ANGELES — Legal representatives for the individual facing charges in connection with the devastating Palisades Fire made a public appeal Thursday, demanding his freedom from custody based on recently discovered evidence they claim proves his innocence.
Twenty-nine-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht faces charges for allegedly igniting what became one of California’s most catastrophic wildfires in recorded history. The blaze erupted on January 7, 2025, consuming hillside communities in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, ultimately claiming 12 lives.
Federal prosecutors allege Rinderknecht ignited a fire on January 1 that continued burning undetected in underground root systems before resurging six days later. Rinderknecht maintains his innocence through a not guilty plea, while his legal team argues he’s become a convenient target to cover up the Los Angeles Fire Department’s inability to completely extinguish the initial fire.
Federal prosecutors chose not to provide comment Thursday regarding the case.
Defense lawyer Steve Haney highlighted recently disclosed deposition testimony from a firefighter who stated he observed continued smoldering from the blaze on January 2 and informed supervisors about remaining hot spots. This testimony emerged from litigation brought by fire victims against the city.
The civil lawsuit also featured testimony from California state park ranger Christy Araujo supporting the firefighter’s observations about the smoldering burn area, Haney noted.
However, a battalion chief provided testimony stating he conducted four separate perimeter walks throughout the day, ensuring all hot spots were completely extinguished.
Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore, who assumed his position in October, has expressed concern about the conflicting firefighter accounts and ordered an independent investigation into the January 1 fire response.
Haney emphasized this critical evidence was unavailable to the defense team during Rinderknecht’s indictment process.
“This evidence calls into question not only the fundamental fairness for my client’s continued detention, but the very foundation of the charges themselves,” Haney said in a statement. “This is not a case about an individual causing a fire. This is a case about government agencies failing to do their jobs.”
The attorney also argued no evidence connects Rinderknecht to starting the January 1 fire, suggesting witness accounts point to fireworks as the likely ignition source.
Haney stated Rinderknecht, who has remained in custody for 150 days, should never have faced indictment and deserves immediate release. While federal procedural rules prevent filing a motion to dismiss the indictment, he plans to file next week seeking suppression of all evidence obtained through search warrants he claims lacked probable cause.
“I’m calling upon the U.S. Attorneys,” Haney said. “I believe they have an ethical obligation … to review this and dismiss the indictment.”
The case’s next pretrial conference is set for April.
