Alleged invader at Fresno City Hall official’s home appears in court. Will case continue?
The criminal case of a man accused of invading the home of Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz with a knife will continue.
Larry Torrez returned to court Monday for a competency hearing that lasted two minutes. The attorneys reviewed the findings of evaluation conducted in May.
Torrez, 56, was arrested May 17, charged with attempted burglary and trespassing. He pleaded not guilty. Fresno County Superior Court Judge Geoffrey Wilson initially granted him bail during a May 20 arraignment. However, Torrez remained in jail on a parole violation in an unrelated case.
“The court determines that the defendant is presently competent to stand trial,” Wilson said Tuesday. “The determination is made on the basis of the previously referenced report, and criminal proceedings are reinstated.”
Accused of invading Janz’s home
Torrez is accused of appearing at the county island home of Janz, ringing the doorbell around 3:30 a.m. Surveillance cameras showed a man holding a knife and wearing gloves at the front door, then hopping a fence to Janz’s backyard.
Janz did not appear in court Monday. He did attend Torrez’s arraignment in May.
During the arraignment, Janz told The Bee that he never had personal contact with Torrez, but he was known to the city. The suspect filed his own restraining orders in the past six months against Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto, and a probation officer. Separate judges denied both petitions. Janz’s office defended the city in the Casto petition.
Janz said he believed the litigation motivated Torrez.
Court records showed Torrez with at least 21 felony and misdemeanor convictions, dating back to 1988. The charges include elder abuse, sexual assault, and several DUIs.
Torrez returns to court July 10 for a pre-preliminary hearing and July 17 for the preliminary examination.
Katie Parker, with the law firm Fitzgerald, Alvarez and Ciummo defended Torrez for the hearing, although it is unclear if she will remain his attorney. He had different representation for his May arraignment.
