The person accused of igniting the lethal Palisades fireplace was again in California on Thursday, making his first look in a federal courtroom in downtown Los Angeles.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, is charged with destruction of property by the use of fireplace; one rely of arson affecting property utilized in interstate commerce; and one rely of timber set afire, in accordance with the U.S. lawyer’s workplace. He pleaded not responsible to the costs and was ordered to stay in custody.
Showing earlier than Justice of the Peace Decide Rozella A. Oliver in a beige jail jumpsuit, Rinderknecht appeared agitated and held his arms behind his again.
At one level, he interrupted the continuing, saying, “Can I point out one thing about detainment?” earlier than his lawyer, Steve Haney, reduce him off.
Haney requested for a break they usually stepped out of the courtroom for about 5 minutes.
“Clearly he’s annoyed,” Haney later informed reporters about his consumer’s outburst in court docket. “He’s a annoyed younger man who’s in custody.”
Haney mentioned the federal authorities was utilizing his consumer as a “scapegoat.”
Rinderknecht lived in Los Angeles when he allegedly set a fireplace — often called the Lachman fireplace — on New Yr’s Day in Temescal Canyon, in accordance with federal prosecutors. Investigators say he was within the space working as an Uber driver and dropping off passengers close to an space the place he previously lived.
Authorities allege he maliciously began the Lachman fireplace close to Cranium Rock simply after midnight. Prosecutors cited witness statements, video surveillance, Rinderknecht’s cellphone information and an evaluation of the place the hearth ignited.
Investigators additionally discovered an AI-generated picture of a burning metropolis on Rinderknecht’s iPhone, in accordance with Invoice Essayli, appearing U.S. lawyer for the Central District of California.
Environmental sensors first detected the Lachman fireplace at 12:12 a.m. on Jan. 1. Cellphone information present Rinderknecht repeatedly referred to as and failed to hook up with 911 inside 5 minutes of the primary indicators of the hearth, prosecutors mentioned. Round that point, a resident referred to as within the fireplace to authorities.
Prosecutors say that Rinderknecht then approached firefighters to attempt to assist them put out the blaze. He later informed investigators that he noticed the hearth from the underside of a path, however information from his iPhone confirmed that he was standing about 30 toes away from the hearth because it unfold, in accordance with court docket information.
Crews initially thought they’d contained the Lachman fireplace, however federal prosecutors say it flared up once more days later — rising into the Palisades fireplace.
That fireplace finally burned 23,400 acres and destroyed greater than 6,800 constructions. Twelve folks died because the flames ripped by Pacific Palisades.
Haney asserted that his consumer didn’t begin the Lachman fireplace.
“There needs to be a connection between the 2,” he mentioned.
Rinderknecht, the son of Baptist missionaries, spent a big portion of his childhood touring throughout the US along with his household. His mother and father reside in France, and prosecutors declare Rinderknecht is a flight threat attributable to his household dwelling abroad.
He beforehand lived in Pacific Palisades however lived in Hollywood when the Lachman fireplace ignited, in accordance with prosecutors.
Federal brokers arrested Rinderknecht on Oct. 7 at a house outdoors Orlando, Fla., the place he was staying with household. He has remained in custody since then.
A jury trial is ready for Dec. 16, and Haney mentioned he anticipated his consumer would make one other try and be launched on bond.
