The father of the man accused of igniting one of Southern California’s most devastating wildfires, which tragically claimed 12 lives, made an appearance outside the Los Angeles federal courthouse on Wednesday as the trial of his son commenced with opening statements.
Prosecutors are aiming for a prison sentence of up to 45 years for Jonathan Rinderknecht, who stands accused of starting last year’s catastrophic Palisades Fire. The jury selection concluded on Tuesday, resulting in a panel composed of nine women and three men, following the screening of 46 potential jurors by Judge Anne Hwang.
Among the prospective jurors were individuals directly impacted by the fires. One woman, in particular, struggled to hold back tears as she recounted the devastation she had experienced.
Rinderknecht’s father, wearing a green button-up shirt and carrying a bag, was present outside the courthouse but chose not to speak to the media.
Thirty-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, who works as an Uber driver, faced indictment last October on three felony charges related to arson and property destruction. Investigators allege he initially set off the Lachman fire, a New Year’s incident believed to have been extinguished by firefighters. This fire, however, reportedly smoldered underground, subsequently sparking the deadly Palisades Fire a week later.
He pleaded not guilty, with his attorneys arguing the blaze was initially sparked by a nearby firework.
Rinderknecht’s father, a French missionary, flew to Los Angeles in October 2025 to ask a federal judge at the Roybal Federal Building to release his son.
But weeks before the alleged arsonist’s arrest, a family member called 911 after Rinderknecht allegedly threatened to burn down his sister’s Florida home, where he had been staying. Police body camera footage captured his sister telling officers she feared her brother.
A week later, Rinderknecht’s father also called 911 after learning his son had purchased a handgun for what he described as “self-defense” against his brother-in-law.