FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment today charging former Sanger police officer J. Deshawn Torrence, 40, of Corcoran, with an additional count of deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law for sexually assaulting a woman with whom he interacted during the course of his duties.

Torrence was previously indicted in July 2022. At that time, he was charged with engaging in various forms of nonconsensual sexual conduct, ranging from directing a victim to remove her clothing without a legitimate law enforcement purpose to forcing his victims to engage in sex acts, all while serving as a police officer.

The superseding indictment adds a charge involving an additional victim. According to the indictment, Torrence sexually assaulted the additional victim after locking her in his patrol vehicle and driving her to an isolated location. 

If convicted, Torrence faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine for the counts of deprivation of rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury, including sexual abuse. He faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine if convicted of deprivation of rights under color of law, and he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of deprivation of rights under the color of law resulting in bodily injury.

Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after considering any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which consider several variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.