The agreement resolves one woman’s civil claim tied to a former Sanger police officer convicted of on-duty sexual assaults.
SANGER, CA — The City of Sanger has approved a $5.25 million settlement for a woman who said a former Sanger police officer raped and assaulted her while on duty, city representatives and the woman’s attorney said last week. The payment closes one lawsuit but leaves several others in motion.
The settlement comes after a federal jury convicted former Sanger officer J. DeShawn Torrence in early 2025 and a judge imposed five consecutive life sentences in September 2025. Attorneys say the agreement is the city’s first payout arising from Torrence’s conduct, which prosecutors said stretched from 2016 to 2022. The case has forced Sanger leaders to confront years of alleged abuse carried out under color of law and has raised questions about department oversight, victim reporting, and future liability. Officials say more civil claims are expected. The woman’s lawyer called the payment meaningful but not total closure for clients who continue to deal with trauma.
According to the woman’s attorney, the City Council approved the $5.25 million settlement last week after closed-door discussions about pending litigation. Fresno attorney Nicholas “Butch” Wagner said his client wanted accountability from the city along with the criminal sentence already in place for Torrence. “She can move on with her life now,” Wagner said. He added that the assaults by the former officer were enabled by power and authority that victims said they felt they could not challenge. Wagner said assaults reported to his firm span a six-year period, with the first reported in 2016 and the most recent in 2022. During that time, he said, the former officer coerced women into his patrol car, and some incidents led to kidnapping counts in federal court.
Prosecutors said a federal jury in the Eastern District of California convicted Torrence after multiple women testified about encounters that began as routine police contacts and escalated into sexual violence. In September 2025, a visiting U.S. district judge ordered five consecutive life terms after jurors found Torrence guilty on eight counts that included deprivation of rights under color of law and aggravated sexual abuse. Police Chief John Reynolds has called the former officer’s conduct a profound betrayal of public trust. Wagner said victims ranged in age from 29 to 67 and described lasting trauma. He said his firm has spoken with eight or nine women who reported being victimized and believes the total could top 10, though the complete number remains unknown.
Records and prior statements show Torrence joined the Sanger Police Department in 2016. Complaints that surfaced during the federal case described late-night stops, threats of arrest, and orders to get into a patrol vehicle. Prosecutors said the assaults occurred in and around Sanger and nearby communities. The Sheriff’s Office arrested Torrence in 2021 after a criminal investigation that included interviews, digital evidence, and testimony from women who came forward. A two-and-a-half-week trial in January 2025 ended in convictions on all counts charged at trial. In separate public comments after sentencing, Sanger officials said the department would cooperate with any review of its practices. The city has not detailed specific internal discipline or policy changes tied to the period when Torrence was employed. What, if any, prior complaints were lodged against him has not been fully disclosed.
Wagner said the civil cases focus on the city’s responsibility for hiring, supervision, and failure to stop the abuse sooner. He said the statute of limitations for filing civil claims in these circumstances allows additional victims to pursue damages. Wagner said he plans to file complaints for four more clients in the coming days, with additional potential cases under review. City Manager Nathan Olson said Sanger is working to address claims and compensate victims. The settlement approved last week resolves one woman’s case without an admission of wrongdoing by the city. It was not immediately clear how the payout will be funded, whether through insurance or the city’s risk pool, and what impact it could have on Sanger’s budget this fiscal year.
Context from court filings and public statements shows that Torrence’s convictions stemmed from assaults that occurred while he wore a badge and carried a gun. Prosecutors said he used the threat of arrest to force compliance. Eight women testified at trial, and four were identified as victims in the counts that led to life sentences. The judge said consecutive terms were warranted because the crimes were violent, repeated, and carried out under color of law. The case followed other Central Valley prosecutions of law enforcement officers for abuses of authority, though the five life sentences stand out as among the most severe. Community groups in Sanger and Fresno have pointed to the case in recent calls for stronger internal affairs reviews and independent oversight of police conduct.
With one settlement completed, attorneys expect more filings. Civil complaints typically move through written discovery, depositions, mediation, and, if not resolved, trial. If new lawsuits are filed next week as Wagner indicated, the city would have a set period to respond in court after service. Any additional settlements would require formal approval by the City Council in open session following closed-session deliberations on legal strategy. A standard process would include public reporting of any action taken and the final amount approved. Separate from the civil cases, Torrence remains in federal custody serving five life sentences. There are no known pending criminal appeals posted in the public docket at this time.
Outside City Hall this week, residents described mixed feelings of anger and relief. Some said the payment acknowledges harm but feared the city could face many more claims. “It is devastating for the victims and for our community,” said Maria Hernandez, who lives near downtown Sanger. “We count on police to protect us.” Others focused on transparency. “People want to know how this happened and how it will not happen again,” said James Lopez, a business owner. The police chief previously called the conduct one of the most serious betrayals possible. Wagner said his clients are trying to rebuild their lives and that money cannot erase what happened but can fund care and stability. He said more women may come forward as they learn of the settlement and the criminal sentence.
As of Saturday, Jan. 31, the woman’s settlement has been approved and processed by the city, according to her attorney. Additional civil complaints are expected to be filed as soon as next week. The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled in February, when the city could disclose further actions on litigation in public session summaries.
Author note: Last updated January 31, 2026.