The jury hearing the case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice in Los Angeles to determine if Jonathan Rinderknecht is guilty of starting the Palisades fire in early 2025 said they are deadlocked.  

“The jury in the Jonathan Rinderknecht trial sent a subsequent note saying they are deadlocked,” the Justice Department tells Deadline. “The trial continues.”

Rinderknecht, a former Uber driver, has insisted he is innocent of the charges and is being set up as a fall guy for the failures of others.

Rinderknecht, was arrested in Florida on October 8 last year. The then 29-year-old is accused of intentionally starting a “hold over” fire that one week later sparked into the Palisades Fire.