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Authorities said they arrested a 29-year-old Florida man in connection with a deadly wildfire that ravaged a Los Angeles neighborhood in January.
Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli identified the suspect as 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, an Uber driver.
"The complaint alleges that Rinderknecht's started a fire in Pacific Palisades on New Year's Day -- a blaze that eventually turned into one of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history, causing death and widespread destruction," Essayli said during a news conference on Wednesday, as well as noted on X.
"We will prove that he intentionally started this fire -- and maliciously," Essayli added.
Essayli said Rinderknecht was charged with destruction of property by means of fire, a felony that carries a mandatory minimum 5-year prison sentence.
Rinderknecht was arrested near his home in Florida on Tuesday and is expected to make a court appearance on Wednesday afternoon, according to Essayli.
Among those impacted by the fires was Hollywood star and poker pro James Woods. He was yet to comment on the arrest as of Wednesday morning.
The fire burned much of Woods neighborhood down. His own home sustained damage but was not completely destroyed as had previously been believed the days following his evacuation.
"A miracle has happened," Woods posted upon returning to the devastation. "We managed to get to our property and our home, that we were told is gone forever, is still standing."
Woods added: "In this hellish landscape 'standing' is relative, but smoke and other damage is not like the utter destruction around us.
- Nagesh Rath, Gambling911.com
