Uber Driver Faces 45 Years in Prison for Igniting Deadly California Wildfire

According to federal prosecutors, an Uber driver named Jonathan Rinderknecht is facing a potential 45-year prison sentence for his alleged role in starting the devastating Palisades Fire in California in January 2025. The blaze, which began as the Lachman Fire, eventually burned through over 23,000 acres and claimed 12 lives.

Rinderknecht, who is also known as "Jonathan Rinder" and "Jon Rinder," was already facing charges of destruction of property by means of fire. However, a federal grand jury has now indicted him on two additional felonies: arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire. These new charges, along with the previous ones, could result in a maximum sentence of 45 years in federal prison, with a mandatory minimum of 5 years.

Prosecutors allege that on the evening of December 31, 2024, Rinderknecht's Uber passengers reported that he appeared "agitated and angry." After dropping off a passenger in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, Rinderknecht parked at the Skull Rock Trailhead. Just after midnight on January 1, 2025, the Lachman Fire began, and Rinderknecht called 911 before fleeing the scene. However, location data from his cell phone placed him just 30 feet from the blaze as it grew.

Investigators also discovered that Rinderknecht had generated an image on the AI chatbot ChatGPT depicting a burning city, which they believe may have been related to the fire. The Palisades Fire was later determined to be a "holdover" fire, meaning it was a continuation of the Lachman Fire that Rinderknecht is accused of starting.

Rinderknecht is currently in federal custody and is scheduled to be arraigned in the coming weeks in the United States District Court in Los Angeles. The case is being prosecuted by a team of Assistant United States Attorneys.