A man who took part in a string of masked rapes and break-ins in east Bakersfield could be sent to prison for the rest of his life after jurors found him guilty on 24 felony counts.

Billy Ray Johnson was convicted Tuesday. Deputy district attorney Cynthia Zimmer said DNA put Johnson at each scene in 2013.

“It was the DNA that enabled us to know who raped these women,” she said.

Defense attorney Paul Cadman said Johnson is guilty of the break-ins, but isn’t the “Eastside Rapist.”

“I respect the jury’s decision,” he said. “But the DNA was never found in his mask.”

He’ll be sentenced May 19.

– Anthony Pollreisz