Former Sanger Officer Sentenced to Five Life Terms

Former Sanger police officer J. DeShawn Torrence, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson to five consecutive life terms after a federal jury in January 2025 convicted him on eight counts of deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law, including five counts involving kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, or attempted aggravated sexual abuse. Prosecutors said Torrence repeatedly abused his authority from 2017 to 2021 to sexually assault four women he encountered while on duty, including kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 21-year-old and forcibly raping a 67-year-old during a DUI investigation. The first allegation surfaced in 2021; following investigations by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, Torrence was arrested and indicted in July 2022, leading to his trial and conviction. Federal and local officials — including the DOJ, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant, Sanger Police Chief John Reynolds and Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni — praised the victims’ bravery, condemned Torrence’s betrayal of public trust and said the sentence underscores that no law enforcement officer is above the law.