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Mistrial declared in Palisades Fire arson trial

newsJun 26, 202660321

A federal judge declared a mistrial Friday after a jury deadlocked in the arson trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, who was accused of starting the 2025 Palisades Fire. Jurors told the court they were hopelessly deadlocked, reporting a 10-2 split with 10 favoring acquittal and two favoring conviction. Rinderknecht faced three federal charges alleging he intentionally set a blaze that six days later developed into what became the deadly Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history. Prosecutors said they will retry the case, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said.

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