Former Sanger police officer gets 5 life sentences for on-duty sexual assaults

A former Sanger police officer has received five life sentences for a series of sexually assaults, described by authorities as “premediated and depraved.”

J. DeShawn Torrence was sentenced by a U.S. District Judge on Monday, ending a four-year-long case against the 41-year old Corcoran man.

“While no prison sentence can undo the extraordinary pain and suffering the defendant caused these women, today’s sentence of five consecutive life sentences holds the defendant accountable for his heinous conduct,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said in a statement.

It also “sends a clear message that the Justice Department will aggressively prosecute those who violate the constitutional rights of the people they are sworn to protect,” he said.

Torrence was arrested by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office in 2021. They alleged he sexually touched a woman against her will after detaining her for a possible DUI.

At the time, they believed there were other victims.

“What he did was pretty egregious, offensive and criminal and we just think this wasn’t the first time he has done this,” then-Sheriff Margaret Mims said following the arrest.

“The last thing we want is someone who behaves like that in a law enforcement position.”

Mutliple victims assaulted, intimidated

Torrence was ultimately indicted for assaulting four women, including a a 21‑year-old who was walking to a store to buy groceries before Torrence kidnapped her, drove her outside of town and “sexually assaulted her at an isolated dead end,” according to the Justice Department.

Another woman was a domestic violence victim whom Torrence visited at home on the pretence of investigation.

Torrence assaulted and intimidate three of the women at their homes, according to evidence presented at trail.

In January, a jury convicted convicted Torrence of eight counts of deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law; five of those counts involved kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, or attempted aggravated sexual abuse. The trail laster two-and-a-half weeks.

“We commend the courageous women who came forward, trusting law enforcement to ensure J.D. Torrence was held accountable for his crimes,” said Sid Patel Special Agent in Charge at the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “Their bravery has prevented this predator from harming anyone else.”