The Brief

LOS ANGELES - A federal grand jury has indicted Jonathan Rinderknecht, who is charged with starting what eventually became the Palisades Fire in January. Two additional felonies have been added to his case.

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Rinderknecht, 29, is charged in the three-count indictment with one count of destruction of property by means of fire, one count of arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and one count of timber set afire. He has been in federal custody since his arrest on October 7.

Rinderknecht is accused of starting the so-called Lachman Fire just after midnight on New Year's Day. Although firefighters quickly suppressed that fire, it continued to smolder and burn underground. About a week later on January 7, heavy winds caused the underground fire to surfac

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