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Suspect charged in connection to Palisades Fire faces new charges
This undated photo provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office shows Jonathan Rinderknecht, a suspect in the Palisades Fire.
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Courtesy U.S. Attorney's Office
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U.S. Attorney's Office
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Topline:
A former Pacific Palisades resident, who was charged in connection to the January fire that killed 12 people, was indicted Wednesday on two additional felonies by a federal grand jury.
What we know: Jonathan Rinderknecht has been in federal custody since his arrest Oct. 7. Prosecutors say on Jan. 1, he allegedly set the Lachman Fire, which eventually became the Palisades Fire.
What are the charges? The 29-year-old is facing one count of destruction of property by means of fire, one count of arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and one count of setting timber afire.
What punishment is he facing? If convicted, Rinderknecht would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 45 years in federal prison.
What’s next: His arraignment is expected to be scheduled at the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles in the next few weeks.
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