Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
A federal jury in Fresno has convicted former Sanger Police Department Officer J. DeShawn Torrence, 42, on eight counts of deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law. The charges stem from the sexual assault of four women during his official duties. These offenses included kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, attempted aggravated sexual abuse, and causing bodily injury.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Kathleen Wolfe from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith for the Eastern District of California, and Special Agent in Charge Siddartha Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office announced the verdict.
The trial revealed that Torrence sexually assaulted four women. In one instance, he kidnapped a 21-year-old woman while she was on her way to buy groceries for her children and assaulted her at an isolated location. He also raped a 67-year-old woman after following her home during a DUI investigation. A third victim was assaulted when Torrence entered her apartment after midnight under false pretenses. Additionally, Torrence visited a fourth victim's home multiple times under the guise of investigating domestic violence but used these visits to sexually assault her.
Acting U.S. Attorney Beckwith stated: “Law enforcement officers are entrusted with great power to protect the public and keep them safe from harm. This officer’s crimes were an egregious breach of that trust and an appalling abuse of power.”
Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel expressed gratitude to the victims who reported the abuses: “The FBI Sacramento Field Office is grateful to the brave victims who came forward and trusted us to investigate.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Sacramento Field Office with help from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecution is being handled by Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar.
Torrence is scheduled for sentencing on May 7, 2025. He faces up to life imprisonment and significant fines for some counts; others carry lesser penalties subject to court discretion based on Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
