LOS ANGELES -- The 29-year-old man accused of starting a fire that eventually turned into the deadly and destructive Palisades Fire pleaded not guilty Thursday in a Los Angeles courtroom.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, a former resident of Pacific Palisades, was arrested in Florida earlier this month.

He is charged with one count of destruction of property by means of fire, one count of arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and one county of timber set a fire.

If convicted on all charges, Rinderknecht faces up to 45 years in federal prison.

During his first court appearance on Thursday, Rinderknecht's attorney, Steven Haney, tried to argue against detention, which was ordered on October 9 by a Florida judge.

Haney said his client has no history of mental health issues or dru

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