The city of Sanger paid $5.25 million to a victim of a police officer who was convicted in 2025 of serial sexual assaults. The officer, J. DeShawn Torrence, received five life sentences. (GV Wire Composite)
- The city of Sanger paid $5.25 million to a victim of a police officer who was found guilty in 2025 of multiple counts of sexual assault.
- Attorney Nicholas "Butch" Wagner said he will be filing complaints for four more victims and there may be more than 10 victims.
- J. DeShawn Torrence was found guilty in January 2025 of sexual assault and is now serving five consecutive life sentences.
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The city of Sanger this week made the first of what may be many settlements with victims of a police officer who was sentenced to five life sentences for sexual assault.
Fresno attorney Nicholas “Butch” Wagner said there are at least 10 other victims and maybe more.
The city awarded Maria Culbertson $5.25 million for rape committed by 41-year-old former officer J. DeShawn Torrence, said Fresno attorney Nicholas “Butch” Wagner, who represented Culbertson.
“It’s goes to a good extent to closure for her,” Wagner said. “The case is behind her, Torrence is in prison, and she’s got compensation now to help her move on with her life.”
Wagner said he will be filing complaints Monday from four more victims. Given Torrence’s history, Wagner suspects the former police officer may have had other victims during his five-year tenure with the department beginning 2016. Wagner said there are at least 10 other victims and maybe more. The statute of limitations for filing civil complaints is 10 years, he said.
Sanger City Manager Nathan Olson told GV Wire that it is working toward compensating victims.
“The city acted swiftly to invite the Sheriff’s (Department) and FBI to independently investigate these allegations and has continuously cooperated in ensuring that justice is served,” Olson said in a statement. “Once the criminal matter was completed with the conviction of ex-officer Torrence, the city is now working to compensate the victims.”
Related Story: Judge Orders Life in Prison for Sanger Cop Who Preyed on Women
Torrence Repeatedly Committed Sexual Assaults
A federal jury found Torrence guilty in January 2025 of sexually assaulting four women. A judge sentenced him to five consecutive life sentences for the crimes he committed while on duty, which included kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, and attempted aggravated sexual abuse.
Wagner said Torrence twice raped Culbertson while in her home. Torrence also committed rape in the back of his squad car with multiple victims, a release from the U.S. Department of Justice stated.
To keep victims from coming forward, Torrence threatened their lives or that of their children, Wagner said.
Given the five-year period over which these crimes occurred, Wagner said there could be more victims.. He said the city should have acted sooner.
“These are the people you trust with solving crime and finding out about crime and stopping crime, and it’s going on right in front of their nose by one of their own over an extended period of time,” Wagner said.
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