Prosecutors said in new court filings Monday the man accused of causing the Palisades Fire remains a flight risk and a danger to the public, and shared text messages and photographs in an effort to convince a judge to keep Jonathan Rinderknecht locked up until trial.
“No sureties or other conditions of release would serve to reasonably assure defendant’s appearance at future proceedings and the safety of the community while defendant awaits trial,” the government said.
Rinderknecht, 29, was arrested in October in Florida and indicted on a trio of federal arson charges that accuse him of igniting a smaller brush fire in the Palisades Highlands on January 1, which the ATF said it concluded later reignited during high winds January 7 and became the Palisades Fire.
He has pleaded not guilty.
A judge in Florida ordered Rinderknecht detained, or held without bond, on October 9, after an ATF special agent testified that Rinderknecht had allegedly threatened to burn his sister’s home and murder his brother in law.
Rinderknecht had been staying at his sister’s home in Florida after he was questioned in Los Angeles by agents and detectives investigating the Palisades Fire, and prosecutors said in the court filing Monday the sister and her family had moved out of their own home because they were afraid of Rinderknecht’s alleged erratic behavior and threats.
Agents also reported they found a .380 Smith & Wesson pistol inside a stuffed animal in the garage of the sister’s home, and photos of the weapon and its discovery were included in the court filing.
PALISADES FIRE INVESTIGATION
At an initial appearance in US District Court in Los Angeles last month Rinderknecht’s defense attorney Steve Haney said he would ask the judge to reconsider a pre-trial release on bond, citing Rinderknecht’s lack of any criminal history and his family’s willingness to act as a surety, or guarantee, that Rinderknecht would appear in court as ordered.
Haney said he thought there could be a combination of travel restrictions and monitoring that would satisfy the court’s concerns that Rinderknecht might try to flee, and on November 10 Haney filed a formal application requesting a reconsideration of release on bond.
Haney did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the detention hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, November 18.
Also in the prosecutors’ court filing Monday were screenshots of text messages that the Feds say suggest Rinderknecht was contemplating leaving the United States as recently as September, 2025, several weeks prior to his arrest.
“Not set just yet, sf, la, or bali or malaysia,” Rinderknecht allegedly wrote in a message that shows his name as, “Jon Rinder,” a variation on his legal name under which he’s also been indicted.
“Floridas not my cup or anything,” he allegedly said, and added a few lines down, “I have job and place and friends waiting in bali.”
Prosecutors said in the filing that Rinderknecht has no family in Los Angeles and no other significant ties to the Southern California community, writing that he rented apartments in the Palisades and North Hollywood, and worked as a self-employed rideshare and delivery driver.
“Given the extent of the harm and devastation caused by defendant’s alleged offense conduct, his recent erratic behavior, his recent threats of violence made to his own family members…there is no amount of bail or other
conditions of release that could reasonably assure the safety of the community or mitigate the risk of his nonappearance at future proceedings,” the government wrote.
Rinderknecht’s trial was initial set for December, then earlier this month it was delayed until April, 2026, although officials said they would not be surprised if it was delayed again.
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