The trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht,  accused of sparking one of Southern California’s deadliest and most destructive wildfires, started Wednesday.

Rinderknecht, who allegedly started the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve 2024 — which a week later exploded into the deadly, wind-driven Palisades Fire that killed 12 — faces up to 45 years behind bars if found guilty.

Jurors inside the US District Court for the Central District of California listened to the troubling 9-1-1 calls Rinderknecht made after allegedly starting the blaze on New Year’s Eve. 

Rinderknecht was on the hill that night to watch fireworks, his attorney Steve Haney told the courtroom. While there, he made 16 emergency calls to report a fire.

“I’d like to report a fire,” he said, according to his attorney. “In the Highland, yes we are aware,” an operator allegedly responded. Haney said during the trial he would prove the fire was started with fireworks.

Prosecutors disagreed, painting a story that suggested Rinderknecht acted like a pyro angry at the world.

They said Rinderknecht “blamed society” for all of his problems and used ChatGPT often. In one ominous case, prosecutors said he asked the artificial intelligence model in July 2024 to create an image of a fire.

He also looked at images of fires and took videos of fire engines leaving a Hollywood Los Angeles Fire Department station, prosecutors said.

ATF Special Agent Michael Montevidoni, who investigated Rinderknecht, testified during Wednesday’s trial.

He said Rinderknecht’s Google search history included “Luigi Mangione,” “Free Luigi Mangione,” “Billionaires in America” and “CEO Murder.”

He also used ChatGPT as a “diary” for some of his thoughts, Montevidoni said. Allegedly asking the app “Why am I so angry all the time?”

Rinderknecht’s biggest focus in using technology was on wealth disparity and climate change, 

“Led by big corporations, it’s like a world controlled by money. And the people that have the money just don’t care about other people, and they don’t care about the planet. It’s hard to see all that and still be happy. They control too much.” the agent testified Rinderknecht had typed.

Rinderknecht also took his fire obsession to his music playlist, prosecutors have alleged. He often listened to a song by a French rapper, including at least once on the day the blaze was started. In the song’s music video, the French rapper lit objects on fire.

Rinderknecht was working as an Uber driver on the day of the fire, and passengers said he vented about how the ride-sharing service wasn’t paying him enough, prosecutors have said.

Prosecutors said at one point, he got out of his vehicle and climbed a hillside where he then started the fire with a green Bic lighter that was found in his car’s glovebox. His car remained parked near his ex’s house for several minutes after midnight as the fire grew.

Rinderknecht pleaded not guilty in October last year to federal charges of destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and timber set afire.

Palisades Councilmember Traci Parks, who helped the community recover from billions of dollars in damage from the fire and a dozen lives lost, was present for some of the proceedings. Rinderknecht’s father also watched.

Rinderknecht’s trial is estimated to last about 11 days. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison.

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