LOS ANGELES (CNS) – An April 21 trial date has been set in Los Angeles federal court for Jonathan Rinderknecht, the 29-year-old former Uber driver accused of setting a New Year’s Day fire that prosecutors say smoldered for a week and grew into what became the Palisades Fire that killed a dozen people.
Rinderknecht pleaded not guilty last month to federal charges of destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire. He remains in federal custody, but is expected to argue for pretrial release at a Nov. 18 hearing in downtown Los Angeles.
If convicted as charged, Rinderknecht would face up to 45 years behind bars, prosecutors said…