California Cop Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Women
Sanger, Calif. Police Officer DeShawn Torrence has been convicted of sexually assaulting four women he met on duty. Photo credit: Sanger Police Department.
His offenses included kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse and causing bodily injury, according to a Justice Department press release.
Five of the counts each carry a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The three remaining counts carry a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Torrence is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7.
Stalked Women, Then Raped Them
In the evidence provided during the trial, prosecutors proved that Torrence kidnapped a 21-year-old woman who was walking to the store to buy groceries for her children, then drove her outside of the town and sexually assaulted her.
Torrence also raped a 67-year-old woman after following her into her home during a DUI investigation. The DoJ stated that Torrence showed up at the third victim’s house in his police uniform after midnight, entered her apartment, then pinned her against the kitchen counter and sexually assaulted her.
His fourth victim was a woman who was a domestic violence victim of an incident he was dispatched to investigate. During his follow-up visits, he forced the woman to expose sensitive parts of her body and sexually assaulted her.
Served in the Police Force for Five Years
Torrence was arrested in July 2021, five years after joining the PD.
Margaret Mims, who served as a Fresno County Sheriff, but has retired in 2023, said to the Fresno Bee that his actions were “egregious.”
“What he did was pretty egregious, offensive and criminal and we just think this wasn’t the first time he has done this,” Mims said. “The last thing we want is someone who behaves like that in a law enforcement position.”
Local police also called anyone who has new details about this case or had a similar experience with this man to contact the Police Department at 559-600-8144 or Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867 or via the website www.valleycrimestoppers.org.
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