Officer Used His Power To Sexually Assault At Least 4 Women: Officials

SANGER, CA — A former central California police officer was convicted Wednesday of depriving several women of their constitutional rights after he sexually assaulted them while on the job, authorities said, adding his victims included a young mother, a senior and a domestic violence survivor.

J. DeShawn Torrence, 42, was convicted by a jury of eight counts of deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law for sexually assaulting four women, according to authorities, who said Torrence’s offenses included kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse and attempted aggravated sexual abuse.

Torrence, who worked for the Sanger Police Department, kidnapped a 21-year-old walking to a store to buy groceries for her children, drove her outside town in his police car and sexually assaulted her, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

He forcibly raped a 67-year-old after following her into her home during a driving under the influence investigation, authorities said. Torrence came to another woman’s door in his uniform after midnight, entered her apartment, pinned her against a counter and sexually assaulted her, authorities said. He also repeatedly went to the residence of a domestic violence victim, supposedly to investigate, but instead forced the woman to expose herself and sexually assaulted her, according to authorities.

The jury heard additional testimony that Torrence sexually assaulted a fifth woman while acting as an officer, authorities said.

“Law enforcement officers are entrusted with great power to protect the public and keep them safe from harm,” Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith for the Eastern District of California said in a news release. “This officer’s crimes were an egregious breach of that trust and an appalling abuse of power, as he repeatedly preyed on the women in his community and violated their civil rights.”

Five of Torrence’s counts carry a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to authorities, while the other three carry up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Torrence is set to be sentenced May 7, authorities said.