"Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was arrested Oct. 7 and charged with destruction of property by means of fire for allegedly starting a blaze in Temescal Canyon on New Year's Day that went on to become one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history. On Wednesday, Rinderknecht was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with two additional felonies - one count of arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and one count of timber set afire, according to the U.S. Department of Justice."
"If convicted as charged, he faces a federal prison sentence ranging from a mandatory minimum of five years to a statutory maximum of 45 years, prosecutors said. Law enforcement determined that the Palisades fires was a continuation of a small blaze called the Lachman fire, which firefighters suppressed on Jan. 1 but continued to smolder within the root structure of dense vegetation before reigniting amid fierce Santa Ana winds on Jan. 7."
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was arrested Oct. 7 and federally indicted on three felony counts related to the Palisades fire that killed a dozen people. Charges include destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire. Law enforcement concluded the Palisades blaze was a rekindling of the Lachman fire, which smoldered after suppression on Jan. 1 and reignited amid Santa Ana winds on Jan. 7. Prosecutors allege Rinderknecht started the initial Lachman fire near Skull Rock Trailhead around midnight on New Year's Day. Evidence cited includes witness statements, video surveillance, cellphone data, and fire pattern analysis.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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