Man accused of sparking Los Angeles' deadly Palisades Fire appears in court ahead of arson trial
Jonathan Rinderknecht appeared in court for a preliminary hearing related to the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of arson, which prosecutors claim led to the deaths of 12 people. His trial is scheduled to begin on June 8, 2026.
- ▪The Palisades Fire started on January 1, 2025, and became one of California's most destructive wildfires.
- ▪Rinderknecht's attorneys argue that he is being scapegoated for the Los Angeles Fire Department's failure to extinguish the earlier blaze.
- ▪Prosecutors allege that Rinderknecht was upset about not having New Year's Eve plans and expressed anger before the fire started.
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ABC NewsLiveVideoShowsGood Morning AmericaShopGMAInterest Successfully AddedWe'll notify you here with news aboutTurn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? OffOnStream onMan accused of sparking Los Angeles' deadly Palisades Fire appears in court ahead of arson trialThe man accused of sparking the deadly Palisades Fire in Los Angeles is appearing in court for a preliminary hearing ahead of his arson trial next monthByJAIMIE DING Associated PressMay 20, 2026, 1:46 PM1:43FILE - A tattered U.S. flag flaps in the wind over the remains of a mobile home park that was destroyed in the Palisades Fire along the Pacific Ocean, Dec. 5, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C.
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