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A Luzerne County judge has rescheduled until September a trial for Roberto Torner, who is reportedly connected to a Foster Township property that police are searching for human remains.
Judge Michael Vough on Monday granted a defense request to continue the trial for Torner, 45, of Freeland, on a charge of terroristic threats.
Torner allegedly told Shayne Balliet, of Freeland, that either Torner or someone else would kill him. The alleged threats occurred multiple times beginning in June 2015 and lasting until July 2017 when Balliet contacted police. During that period, Torner made statements “as how he has committed crimes toward others,” according to a criminal complaint.
Torner is being held in the Lackawanna County Prison on federal charges that include possession of stolen C-4 explosives.
In January of this year, a federal grand jury in Scranton handed up an indictment alleging Torner was in possession of the stolen explosives while he was free and facing federal drug trafficking and weapons charges.
Torner, Liza Robles and David Alzugaray-Lugones allegedly conspired to distribute heroin in June 2015, according to an indictment in November 2017.
Federal authorities also allege in the indictment Robles purchased firearms and ammunition for Torner, a convicted felon prohibited from possessing weapons. The two allegedly had the firearms while trafficking heroin.
In addition, authorities charged Alzugaray-Lugones, an illegal alien, with possession of a .45-caliber handgun and ammunition.
A real estate entity, Getaway Rental Properties LLC, with the same Washington Street address in Freeland as the residence for Torner and Robles, owns the property being searched. Other LLCs registered at the Freeland address were delinquent in real estate taxes, according to county records.
A demolition and construction business, Affordable Assassins LLC, also was registered at the Freeland address.