SANGER, Calif. (KFSN) — EDITOR’S NOTE: This story contains descriptions of sexual assault, abuse of authority, and violence that may be distressing to some readers.
The City of Sanger has approved a $5.25 million settlement with a victim of a former Sanger Police officer who repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted women over a six-year period, marking what an attorney involved in the case described as a major victory, but only partial closure.
The settlement was approved last week and involves one of several women represented by Fresno attorney Nicholas Wagner of The Wagner Law Group.
Wagner said the compensation acknowledges the harm caused by former officer J.D. Torrence, who sexually assaulted women while on duty.
“She can move on with her life now,” Wagner said.
Wagner said the settlement represents recognition by the city, but it does not fully erase the lasting effects of the abuse his client experienced for years.
“It’s the authority issue, the power issue that is so damaging in this case,” Wagner said.
Wagner represents a total of five clients who were victims of Torrence.
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He said the women continue to suffer from what he described as painful trauma stemming from years of sexual abuse by the former officer.
According to Wagner, the first reported assault occurred in 2016, and the most recent in 2022.
“That was six years he went where he wasn’t stopped,” Wagner said.
Wagner said his law firm is aware of eight or nine people who say they were victimized by Torrence, with the possibility that additional victims have not yet come forward.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if there were more because Torrence did this over a period of five to six years and he did it on a rather regular basis,” Wagner said.
Wagner described Torrence’s tactics as coercive, saying he forced women ranging in age from 29 to 67 to get inside his squad car.
“He actually was convicted on some counts of kidnapping because he forced women into his police car and wouldn’t let them go while he raped them,” Wagner said.
In February, a federal jury found Torrence guilty of sexually assaulting four women while he was on duty. Eight women testified against him during the trial.
“The judge sentenced Torrence to five consecutive life terms, which is the equivalent of 240 years when you’re Torrence’s age,” Wagner said.
Sanger Police Chief John Reynolds previously addressed the case, calling Torrence’s actions a profound violation of his position.
“His actions represent one of the most serious betrayals of public trust possible,” Reynolds said.
The settlement approved last week resolves one victim’s civil claim but comes as additional cases tied to Torrence’s conduct remain part of the broader legal reckoning surrounding the former officer and the department.
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