Overview
- The federal trial ended after 10 days and the jury started deliberations Wednesday over three arson-related counts that carry up to 45 years in prison if Rinderknecht is convicted.
- Prosecutors presented geolocation data, surveillance, environmental sensor readings, a green Bic lighter found in a rented car, phone records and ChatGPT and social-media material to support a theory that the Lachman brush fire was intentionally set.
- The defense argued stray fireworks were the likely cause and called experts and witnesses who said the initial scene was not secured and that weather and foot traffic likely destroyed or obscured forensic evidence.
- Firefighter testimony on whether fireworks were heard or seen was conflicting in court, a juror was excused for showing possible bias after interacting with a witness, and Judge Anne Hwang barred the defense from arguing LAFD negligence.
- If the jury convicts, the decision will have major consequences for victims and public accountability in a blaze that burned about 23,000 acres, destroyed roughly 6,800 structures and killed 12 people, and could prompt scrutiny of wildfire response and investigative practices.