Arson suspect indicted on 2 more felony counts in deadly Los Angeles Palisades fire

LOS ANGELES — The man arrested on suspicion of deliberately setting the blaze that would spark one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history was indicted on three arson-related charges on Wednesday, adding two felonies to the criminal case he already faced in federal court

LOS ANGELES — The man arrested on suspicion of deliberately setting the blaze that would spark one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history was indicted on three arson-related charges on Wednesday, adding two felonies to the criminal case he already faced in federal court.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, is accused of "maliciously" starting a fire on January 1 that was quickly suppressed but continued to smolder beneath dense vegetation before reigniting a week later amid fierce winds, exploding into a major conflagration that killed 12 people and laid waste to the wealthy seaside enclave of Pacific Palisades.

Rinderknecht was arrested earlier this month in Florida and initially charged by federal prosecutors in a criminal complaint with one count of destruction of property by means of fire, an offense punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles on Wednesday returned a three-count indictment charging Rinderknecht with the destruction of property count and two additional felonies — one count of arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and one count of timber set afire.

Jonathan Rinderknecht.US Attorney's Office for the Central District of CaliforniaIf convicted as charged, he would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 45 years behind bars, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.