Opening statements begin in trial for man accused of sparking Palisades Fire

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A packed courtroom heard opening arguments Wednesday in the trial of 30-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, who federal prosecutors say intentionally set the New Year's Day 2025 Lachman Fire - a blaze they allege later smoldered underground and reignited as the deadly Palisades Fire a week later.

Prosecutors told jurors the two fires are linked and that Rinderknecht is responsible for both. They said his motive was anger at society because he had no friends and received no invitations to New Year's celebrations.

"He wanted revenge - revenge against society because he blamed society for all his troubles," Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew O'Brien said in his opening.

Defense attorney Steve Haney rejected that claim, telling jurors Rinderknecht is being wrongly blamed.

"Jonathan did not start the fire on January 1," Haney said in an interview on June 4. "We believe strongly and we'll prove in trial it was started by a firework."

Haney argued investigators found no accelerant, no witnesses who identified Rinderknecht and no confession. He said Rinderknecht was driving for Uber that night and later hiked into the hills only to watch fireworks.

"They have no direct evidence of arson so alternatively, they're gonna try to make Jonathan look as bad as they can and paint him in a negative light," he said.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Traci Park, who represents the Palisades, attended the opening statements. She said the trial is one of several efforts to determine accountability for the fire.

"There's no way around the fact that on Jan. 7 every system that we needed failed, from our public safety systems to even having water for our firefighters on the worst day in L.A. history," Park said.

The Palisades Fire killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes as it swept through hillside neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and Malibu.

Rinderknecht faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted of charges that include malicious destruction by means of a fire.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.