Judge declares mistrial in Jonathan Rinderknecht arson trial
A federal judge declared a mistrial on Friday, June 26, 2026, in the arson trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, the former Uber driver accused of starting the deadly 2025 Palisades Fire. The jury deadlocked after deliberating since Wednesday, with 10 jurors favoring acquittal and two backing conviction, leaving no verdict in one of California's most destructive wildfire cases.
U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang ended the trial after the panel confirmed it could not reach a unanimous decision on any of the three federal counts against Rinderknecht. Federal prosecutors said they plan to try the case again, and Hwang ordered Rinderknecht held until a retrial scheduled to begin Oct. 19.
Key Takeaways
- A mistrial was declared June 26, 2026, after jurors deadlocked on all three federal arson charges against Jonathan Rinderknecht.
- The foreperson said 10 jurors leaned toward acquittal and two toward conviction after deliberations that began Wednesday.
- Prosecutors allege Rinderknecht started the Jan. 1, 2025 Lachman Fire on the Skull Rock trail, which smoldered before erupting into the Palisades Fire on Jan. 7.
- The defense argued fireworks—not Rinderknecht—likely caused the New Year's Day blaze and said no physical evidence tied him to the fire.
- First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said the government will retry the case; Rinderknecht faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted.
Why did the jury deadlock in Jonathan Rinderknecht's trial?
The standoff surfaced late Thursday, when jurors sent a note stating they could not reach a unanimous verdict on any of the three charges, according to CNN. An earlier note said members on both sides were unwilling to change their opinions and were at a standstill, NBC News reported.
Defense attorney Steve Haney requested an Allen charge to push deliberations further, then moved for a mistrial on Friday. Federal prosecutor Mark Williams initially resisted, but after Hwang polled each juror and all said a unanimous verdict was impossible, Williams agreed to end the trial.
When the jury returned Friday morning, the foreperson confirmed the 10-2 split toward acquittal. Hwang declared a mistrial, ending the proceeding without a conviction or full acquittal.
What is Jonathan Rinderknecht accused of in the Palisades Fire case?
Rinderknecht, 30, pleaded not guilty to destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire. Prosecutors say he intentionally started the Lachman Fire in a hillside clearing known as the Hidden Buddha on New Year's Day 2025.
Firefighters suppressed that blaze, but prosecutors say it continued smoldering underground before heavy winds reignited it on Jan. 7 as the Palisades Fire. The inferno killed a dozen people and scorched thousands of homes and businesses in Los Angeles' Pacific Palisades neighborhood, CNN reported.
Over six days, prosecutors called more than 30 witnesses and used security video, cellphone data, and Rinderknecht's own digital trail to place him near the ignition point. Haney countered that fireworks were the most obvious cause, that no witness saw Rinderknecht light a fire, and that arson investigators found no accelerants at the scene.
What happens next after the mistrial?
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said federal prosecutors plan to try the case again before a new jury, according to NBC News. Hwang set the retrial to begin Oct. 19 and ordered Rinderknecht to remain in custody until then.
Rinderknecht remains accused but unconvicted. If a future jury finds him guilty on all counts, he could face up to 45 years in federal prison. The hung jury leaves survivors, homeowners, and Los Angeles communities waiting for a definitive resolution.
For more major legal and breaking developments, follow our Celebrity Breaking News coverage as the Palisades Fire case heads toward a second trial.