City of Sanger Approves $5.25 Million Settlement Tied to Ex-Officer Torrence

Editor’s note: this story contains descriptions of sexual assault, abuse of authority, and violence that may be distressing to some readers.

Sanger city officials approved a $5.25 million settlement to resolve a civil claim tied to crimes committed by former Sanger Police officer J.D. Torrence, city leaders and counsel said. The payment resolves one victim’s civil claim and comes amid a broader federal prosecution that convicted Torrence on multiple counts of on-duty sexual assault and related offenses.

The plaintiff has been publicly identified as Maria Culbertson by the victim’s attorney, Nicholas Wagner, who said the award “acknowledges the harm caused” and allows his client to move forward. “She can move on with her life now,” Wagner said. Wagner also cautioned that the settlement “represents recognition by the city, but it does not fully erase the lasting effects of the abuse his client experienced for years,” and added that “it's the authority issue, the power issue that is so damaging in this case.”

Torrence was convicted in federal court on charges including aggravated sexual abuse, kidnapping, and attempted aggravated sexual abuse. A federal jury found Torrence guilty of sexually assaulting four women while on duty; eight women testified during the trial. A judge later sentenced Torrence to five consecutive life terms. “The judge sentenced Torrence to five consecutive life terms, which is the equivalent of 240 years when you're Torrence's age,” Wagner noted.

Officials described efforts to cooperate with federal and county investigators. Olson, a city official, said, “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. Once the criminal matter was completed with the conviction of ex-officer Torrence, the city is now working to compensate the victims.” Sanger Police Chief John Reynolds called Torrence’s conduct “one of the most serious betrayals of public trust possible.”

Details reported about the criminal acts include repeated assaults over a multi-year span, with accounts varying on whether the pattern lasted five or six years. Prosecutors and the Department of Justice described assaults in multiple locations, including in a squad car and in a victim’s home, and Wagner said Torrence used threats against victims and their children to suppress reporting. Reports differ on timing: some accounts place the jury verdict in January 2025, while others reference a February finding; those discrepancies remain to be confirmed against court records.

The settlement resolves a single civil claim, but Wagner has said he represents multiple clients and has suggested there may be additional victims and suits. For local residents, the approval signals a reckoning over departmental oversight and could have budgetary implications if more payouts follow. The next steps for the public include confirmation of settlement terms at the next city council session, review of council minutes and settlement documents, and monitoring any policy or oversight changes within the Sanger Police Department.