Jonathan Rinderknecht, accused of setting a blaze that became the destructive Palisades fire, wanted to talk to the U.S. District Court judge in downtown Los Angeles about being locked up.

“Can I actually say something about the detainment?” the 29-year-old said Thursday afternoon, Oct. 23, before his attorney, Steve Haney, cut him off and asked U.S. Magistrate Judge Rozella A. Oliver for a break to speak to Rinderknecht in private.

Ten minutes later, Rinderknecht returned, extended his left hand to a hand sanitizer bottle and wiped his hands behind his back.

Both he and Haney then responded, “Not guilty” to three federal charges of destruction of property by means of fire, arson of buildings used in interstate commerce, and setting timber afire.

As Rinderknecht was led out of the cour

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