Uber Driver Faces Up to 45 Years in Prison for Starting Devastating Palisades Fire
Things just got a whole lot worse for the Uber driver charged with starting a fire that ultimately led to the near-total destruction of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles. The area still looks like a war zone, with little reconstruction underway despite some 6,837 structures being burned and at least 12 people losing their lives. Some experts suggest the death toll could be much higher due to health complications stemming from smoke and chemical inhalation.
The Palisades Fire is now officially the most expensive wildfire in U.S. history.
As previously reported, 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, a former California resident living in Florida and working as an Uber driver, was arrested earlier this month. He has been accused of igniting the Lachman Fire on January 1, 2025, which eventually grew into the Palisades Fire.
Now, a grand jury has returned new charges, and Rinderknecht is facing up to half a century behind bars.
New Charges Announced
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California posted the following update on their website:
> Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, also known as “Jonathan Rinder” and “Jon Rinder,” is charged in a three-count indictment with:
>
> – One count of destruction of property by means of fire
> – One count of arson affecting property used in interstate commerce
> – One count of timber set afire
Rinderknecht has been in federal custody since his arrest on October 7. His next court appearance will be his arraignment, expected to occur in the coming weeks at the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
Details on the Fire
According to court documents, law enforcement determined that the Palisades Fire was a “holdover” fire—a continuation of the Lachman Fire that began early on New Year’s Day 2025. Although firefighters initially suppressed the Lachman Fire, it continued to smolder and burn underground within the root structures of dense vegetation.
If convicted on all charges, Rinderknecht could face up to 45 years in federal prison.
Investigative Efforts and Arrest
Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli spoke at the time of the arrest about the detailed investigative work necessary to apprehend the suspect. Authorities used geotracking technology and uncovered several inconsistencies in Rinderknecht’s statements regarding his whereabouts and timing related to the fire.
Blame and Accountability
Much of the blame for the wildfire’s devastating impact has been directed at various officials, including:
– Governor Gavin Newsom, who recently refused a pay raise for California firefighters while allocating hundreds of millions of dollars toward controversial efforts to gerrymander the state’s congressional districts with Proposition 50.
– Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who reportedly traveled to Ghana before the fires erupted despite severe fire warnings.
The arrest of the alleged arsonist offers some measure of accountability, yet many factors contributed to the widespread destruction and the slow pace of recovery. California officials at every level must be held responsible for their failures.
RedState will continue to call attention to these derelictions of duty throughout the recovery process.
Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than prioritizing the American people, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats have forced a government shutdown over healthcare for undocumented immigrants. They own this.
