Jonathan Rinderknecht, the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, has asked a judge to exclude some potential evidence in his case.
Rinderknecht, 29, faces three federal arson charges for allegedly igniting the Lachman Fire on January 1, 2025, in the Palisades Highlands using an “open flame.” The defense argues that investigators lacked probable cause when obtaining search warrants and ignored witness accounts suggesting New Year’s fireworks caused the fire.
According to NBC Los Angeles, Rinderknecht’s attorney, Steve Haney, claims the only evidence against his client was his presence at the scene. Haney stated, “Mere presence at a crime scene is insufficient to establish probable cause.” He also noted that firefighters initially suspected fireworks as the cause, with nearly 31 witnesses reporting seeing or hearing fireworks before the fire spread.
The suppression motion details alleged text exchanges among Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters, suggesting it was a “bad idea” to leave the burned area unattended due to signs of smoldering. The ATF concluded that the Palisades Fire was ignited by unseen embers from the Lachman Fire, which rekindled on January 7 due to intense winds.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested in Florida in October, has been denied bond twice and remains in federal custody. His trial is scheduled to begin in April. The judge will consider the suppression motion and jury issues at a hearing in February.
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