Mistrial declared in the Palisades fire case

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, June 27, 2026

A mistrial was declared in the federal case against Jonathan Rinderknecht, accused of starting the Palisades fire, after the jury was deadlocked following nearly two weeks of deliberation. The government plans to retry the case in October, while the defense argues the 10-to-2 vote favoring acquittal shows insufficient evidence to convict.

A mistrial was declared Friday in the federal case against Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 30-year-old former Uber driver accused of starting the Palisades fire, the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history. After nearly two weeks of deliberation, U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang ruled the jury deadlocked, unable to reach a unanimous verdict on felony charges including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting interstate commerce, and setting timber afire.

The jury reported a 10-to-2 vote favoring acquittal, prompting Judge Hwang to declare a mistrial due to “manifest necessity.” Rinderknecht was ordered to remain in custody pending a new trial, which has been scheduled for October 19.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli expressed confidence in the evidence linking Rinderknecht to the fire, which ignited on January 1, 2025, and said the government intends to retry the case. “The evidence is strong that Jonathan Rinderknecht is responsible for igniting the fire... We fully intend to retry this case before a new jury and obtain guilty verdicts on all charged counts,” Essayli said in a post on the social media platform X.

Defense attorney Steve Haney characterized the jury’s vote as a clear indication that the prosecution failed to meet its burden of proof. “The jury was not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt … and it wasn’t even close,” Haney said outside the courtroom. He noted that a 10-2 vote for acquittal is a significant margin, adding that “in most districts, you’re not going to have a retrial” under such circumstances, but “you will in this district.”

Rinderknecht’s family attended the trial, with his father expressing both disappointment over the mistrial and frustration with the judge’s decision to keep his son in custody. “We know, from day one, our son is innocent,” Joel Rinderknecht said at a news conference, flanked by two of his other children. The family maintains their belief in Jonathan Rinderknecht’s innocence despite the ongoing legal proceedings.

The Palisades fire caused extensive destruction, drawing intense scrutiny and legal action in its aftermath. The retrial scheduled for later this year will determine whether Rinderknecht will face conviction on the federal charges related to the blaze.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.