A judge granted Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz a five-year restraining order against a man who served time for intruding into his home last May.
Fresno County Superior Court Jonathan Skiles placed the order against Larry Orduna Torrez, 56, in a brief hearing Monday morning. Torrez pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor trespassing charge at a July 17 court hearing. A felony attempted burglary charge was thrown out because of lack of evidence. Judge James Kelley sentenced Torrez to 180 days, with credit for 62 days of time served and a $1,000 fine.
Janz, at a news conference prior to the hearing at the B.F. Sisk Courthouse in downtown Fresno, said Torrez was released from jail last week. He called his initial sentence, “light.”
“He was clearly there to do harm,” Janz said. “A guy that comes to my house with a knife and gloves, that’s not a trespass … it might be an aggravated trespass, but you got to ask yourself, what was he doing there? What was he doing there in the middle of the night, hiding behind my bushes, ringing my doorbell, waiting for me to come out? There’s only one plausible answer to that. He was waiting for me to come out so he can stab me, and I’ll let you connect the dots.”
Asked by The Bee if the prosecutor charged Torrez correctly, Janz said: “I’m not getting into a debate with prosecutors at the DA’s office of what they charged and what they didn’t charge. Again, I will let you address those questions with them. I can tell you personally that I think that a trespass was not the correct charge.”
Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp did not immediately respond to The Bee.
Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz, right, talks to the media on Aug. 24, 2026 at the B.F. Sisk Courthouse in downtown Fresno. Chief Assistant City Attorney Erica Camarena stood next to Janz. David Taub The Fresno Bee Restraining order request
At the July 17 criminal hearing, Kelley did not grant Janz a criminal protective order. At the time, Janz said he was frustrated by the decision, but the judge told him there were other avenues he could use.
The City Attorney’s Office applied for a civil restraining order for Janz, his wife, and six-year old daughter. Judge Virna Santos granted a temporary restraining order on July 29. Judge Skiles decision made the restraining order five years.
Torrez applied for restraining orders of his own earlier this year against Police Chief Mindy Casto that was eventually denied. Torrez also filed a claim for damages against the city that was also denied.
Around 3:30 a.m. on May 17, Torrez rang the home of Janz’s residence in a county island within the city of Fresno. Surveillance footage from Janz’s home showed Torrez wearing gloves and holding what looked like a knife. Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies responded, confronting Torrez in the backyard. He was arrested without further incident.
“My family and I have experienced emotional distress, and we are worried about our safety. I have experienced this distress while in the course and scope of performing my job as City Attorney of Fresno,” Janz wrote in a court declaration.
Janz thanks judge
After the court hearing, Janz thanked Skiles in a news release texted to the media.
“When an armed individual targets a public official at their home, the law must draw a clear line. This ruling provides a necessary layer of legal protection, but it also underscores the ongoing, personal risks that public legal officers face every single day,” Janz said.
City exploring security costs
The city has explored security expenses at a recent council meeting. A proposal from the personnel department would allow reimbursement costs up to $5,000 “for personal security expenses arising from City employment.”
Initially on the Aug. 13 city council agenda, the item was tabled with no return date. Janz said he does not have a personal security detail.
“I’m not sure what the intent (of the motion) is. I was not consulted when that was brought forward,” Janz told the media on Monday.
The Fresno Bee
David Taub joined the Fresno Bee in 2026 after reporting 10 years for digital publication GV Wire. He has worked in the Fresno market since 2007. Prior to moving to the Central Valley, he worked for TV and radio stations on the Central Coast. He has also worked behind the scenes in local TV and radio. During his career, he has covered City Hall, the state Capitol, the White House and several houses of government in between. When not in a reporting capacity, he works tracking stats for the Fresno Grizzlies as an official scorekeeper, and also with televised basketball and football games. He has worked the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, and several MLB games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue!