Judge will proceed with Hammond home invasion trial

A judge denied a request to postpone the trial of Garrett Whittenburg, charged as an accomplice in a 2021 home invasion, which is set to begin Monday. The defense argued for a delay due to late receipt of evidence, including files from co-defendant Valentine Torrez's case. Whittenburg faces a possible plea deal involving a rape charge and up to 30 years in prison. Torrez, convicted in 2024 and serving 33 years, may testify. The home invasion involved a masked assailant and the sexual assault of two victims, allegedly planned by Whittenburg and Torrez.