Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
February 06, 2026
Sanger Pays $5.25M in Police Sex Abuse Settlement, Law Firm Seeks More Survivors
TLDR
- The Wagner Law Group secured a $5.25 million settlement for a survivor, demonstrating their advantage in holding institutions accountable for police misconduct.
- The settlement resolves civil claims against the City of Sanger for systemic failures that enabled an officer's sexual abuse, with the officer convicted and serving life sentences.
- This settlement advances justice for survivors and promotes institutional accountability, making communities safer by addressing systemic failures in law enforcement.
- A $5.25 million settlement highlights how civil litigation can uncover institutional failures and drive policy changes to prevent future misconduct.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it represents a critical intersection of justice, institutional accountability, and victim advocacy in cases of police misconduct. When law enforcement officers abuse their power to commit sexual violence, it constitutes a profound betrayal of public trust and inflicts severe, lasting trauma on survivors. The $5.25 million civil settlement, while providing some measure of compensation, primarily serves to highlight systemic failures within the Sanger Police Department that allowed such abuse to persist. This case underscores the vital role of civil litigation in complementing criminal convictions; while the officer is imprisoned, the civil suit forces the municipality to confront its supervisory lapses and potentially fund policy reforms. For the public, it reinforces that no institution is above scrutiny and that victims of authority-figure abuse have legal pathways to seek justice, even years later. The law firm's ongoing investigation and hotline signal that such misconduct is often not isolated, encouraging other survivors to come forward, which is essential for healing and preventing future abuses. Ultimately, this story is about challenging impunity and affirming that communities must be protected from those sworn to serve them.
Summary
The Wagner Law Group, a California-based personal injury and civil litigation firm, has secured a landmark $5.25 million civil settlement from the City of Sanger on behalf of a survivor of sexual abuse committed by former Sanger Police Department officer J.D. Torrence. The settlement, obtained by the firm's Sanger police misconduct lawyers, addresses one of multiple civil claims stemming from a pattern of abuse where Torrence exploited his law enforcement authority to commit acts of sexual violence, for which he was later convicted on federal felony charges and is now serving five consecutive life sentences. This resolution marks a significant step toward accountability, not just for the individual officer's criminal actions, but for the institutional failures that allowed such misconduct to occur.
While the criminal case addressed Torrence's personal wrongdoing, this civil action, led by the firm's sex abuse attorneys, focuses on the broader systemic issues. The substantial settlement underscores the serious harm suffered and highlights the responsibility of public entities to properly supervise those entrusted with authority and protect the community. As noted by the firm, civil litigation plays a critical role in uncovering these institutional failures and driving policy changes to prevent future misconduct. The Wagner Law Group, which also handles FCI Dublin prison sex abuse cases, continues to investigate additional claims related to Torrence's conduct and encourages other potential survivors to come forward.
The firm has established a confidential Victim Hotline at (833) 200-7111 for individuals who may have been victimized by Torrence or experienced sexual misconduct involving law enforcement in the Sanger area. Their injury lawyers in Fresno emphasize that survivors may have legal rights even for abuse that occurred years ago, and that seeking guidance does not require a prior criminal report or public disclosure. With a long-standing record of recovering over $300 million for victims in serious injury cases, including those involving sexual abuse and police misconduct, The Wagner Law Group remains committed to advocating for survivors and holding institutions accountable through a survivor-centered approach.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Sanger Pays $5.25M in Police Sex Abuse Settlement, Law Firm Seeks More Survivors
