"Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, is charged with destruction of property by means of fire; one count of arson affecting property used in interstate commerce; and one count of timber set afire, according to the U.S. attorney's office. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was ordered to remain in custody. Appearing before Magistrate Judge Rozella A. Oliver in a beige prison jumpsuit, Rinderknecht appeared agitated and held his hands behind his back."
"At one point, he interrupted the proceeding, saying, "Can I mention something about detainment?" before his attorney, Steve Haney, cut him off. Haney asked for a break and they stepped out of the courtroom for about five minutes. "Obviously he's frustrated," Haney later told reporters about his client's outburst in court. "He's a frustrated young man who is in custody." Haney said the federal government was using his client as a "scapegoat.""
"Rinderknecht lived in Los Angeles when he allegedly set a fire - known as the Lachman fire - on New Year's Day in Temescal Canyon, according to federal prosecutors. Investigators say he was in the area working as an Uber driver and dropping off passengers near an area where he formerly lived. Authorities allege he maliciously started the Lachman fire near Skull Rock just after midnight. Prosecutors cited witness statements, video surveillance, Rinderknecht's cellphone data and an analysis of where the fire ignited."
A 29-year-old man faces federal charges including destruction of property by fire, arson affecting interstate commerce, and setting timber afire. He pleaded not guilty and was ordered to remain in custody. He appeared agitated in court, interrupted proceedings, and was described by his attorney as a frustrated young man in custody; the attorney also called him a scapegoat. Investigators allege the Lachman fire began in Temescal Canyon on New Year's Day near Skull Rock while the defendant was working as an Uber driver. Evidence cited includes witness statements, video surveillance, cellphone data, fire-origin analysis, and an AI-generated image found on his phone; environmental sensors detected the fire at 12:12 a.m., and phone records show repeated failed 911 calls.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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