A convicted rapist who posed as a ride-share driver to snare victims will spend nearly 300 years in prison after a string of kidnappings and sexual assaults throughout Denver.

Denver District Judge Karen Brody sentenced 43-year-old John Pastor-Mendoza to 290 years to life in the Department of Corrections Friday morning on 30 charges related to the kidnapping, sexual assault and attempted sexual assault of 12 women, according to a news release from the Denver District Attorney’s Office.

The incidents occurred between Sept. 16, 2018 and July 9, 2022.

Acting as a driver for a ride-sharing service, Pastor-Mendoza would falsely respond to women’s ride requests and proceeded to either sexually assault them in his vehicle or take them to his home and assault them there, according to an arrest affidavit. 

In addition to raping the victims, police said he would steal the victims’ cellphones.

A representative from Uber said that Pastor-Mendoza was never a driver for their company, according to The Denver Gazette’s news partner, 9News.

Pastor-Mendoza was arrested on Aug. 19, 2022 after he was linked to three cases through DNA.

Investigators received crucial help from Tracks, a gay bar and nightclub in RiNo, according to arrest records.

Investigators reached out to the bar when they learned that Pastor-Mendoza may have been a patron of the business.

On Aug. 19, 2022, an employee at Tracks sent photos from the night before to investigators of Pastor-Mendoza at the bar. They also sent photos of his driver’s license and vehicle.

A victim identified Pastor-Mendoza as the suspect through the photo, leading to his arrest.

A search of his apartment led to officers finding a cardboard candy box with 18 cell phones, including those lost by the victims, and a bank card belonging to a victim of attempted sexual assault.

Pastor-Mendoza was ultimately convicted of kidnapping 12 women, sexually assaulting two of them and attempting to sexually assault seven others. He was also convicted of one count of robbery, the district attorney’s office said.

“Pastor-Mendoza victimized 12 women in a calculated, cruel and contemptible series of crimes over four years,” District Attorney John Walsh said in the release. “Judge Brody’s severe sentence is entirely appropriate. We should all be grateful for the courage of Pastor-Mendoza’s victims, who came forward and testified at trial to ensure that Pastor-Mendoza will no longer have the opportunity to harm our community.”

9News contributed to this report.