Things just got a whole lot worse for the Uber driver charged with starting a fire that eventually led to the almost total destruction of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. The area still looks like a war zone as little reconstruction is underway despite some 6,837 structures being burned and at least 12 people losing their lives (although some experts claim a much higher, unknown number may have perished due to health issues from smoke and chemical inhalation). It is officially the most expensive wildfire in U.S. history.
As we reported, 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, a former California resident who was living in Florida working as an Uber driver, was arrested earlier this month and accused of igniting the Lachman Fire on January 1, 2025, which ultimately became the Palisades Fire.
Now a grand jury has dropped new charges, and Rinderknecht is facing up to half a century in prison.
Federal grand jury indicts former Los Angeles resident charged with starting Palisades Fire, adding two additional felonies to his criminal case https://t.co/ozyGup0Uiz
— US Attorney L.A. (@USAO_LosAngeles) October 15, 2025
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California posted the news to their website:
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, a.k.a. “Jonathan Rinder,” and “Jon Rinder,” is charged in the three-count indictment with one count of destruction of property by means of fire, one count of arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and one count of timber set afire.
Rinderknecht has been in federal custody since his arrest on October 7. His next court appearance will be his arraignment, which is expected to occur in the coming weeks in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
According to court documents, law enforcement determined that the Palisades Fire was a “holdover” fire – a continuation of the Lachman Fire that began early in the morning on New Year’s Day 2025. Although firefighters quickly suppressed the Lachman Fire, the fire continued to smolder and burn underground within the root structure of dense vegetation.
If convicted of all the charges, Rinderknecht could serve up to 45 years behind bars.
READ MORE: BREAKING: Palisades Fire Determined to Be Arson; Arrest Made
New: Accused Palisades Firebug Threatened Family Before Arrest
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli spoke when the arrest was made about the detailed investigative work required to nail the suspect. They used geotracking and nabbed the alleged firebug after catching him in several lies about where he was and when:
🚨Bill Essayli REVEALS how the Palisades arsonist was caught:
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) October 9, 2025
“This was the incredible work of the ATF and our prosecutors. We geolocated the suspect to the exact origin of the fire — no one else was there. Every other cause has been eliminated.” pic.twitter.com/tUo4NN4xj8
Much blame has been thrown around (most of it deserved) at Gov. Gavin Newsom—who just the other day refused a pay raise for California firefighters even as he spends hundreds of millions on a corrupt effort to gerrymander the state’s congressional maps even further with Prop. 50—LA Mayor Karen Bass, who jetted off to Ghana before the fires erupted, despite severe fire warnings, and many others.
SEE: Sorry, Newsom: Palisades Fire Arrest Isn't Closure; It's Just the Beginning of a Terrible Reckoning
The U.S. has the alleged arsonist in custody, which we like, but there are many, many factors to blame for the widespread destruction and snail-like pace of the recovery. California officials at every level need to be held to account for their disastrous failures. RedState will be reminding them of their dereliction every step of the way.
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