A suspect dubbed “The Mid-City Molester” who was convicted last month of kidnapping and sexually assaulting four girls was sentenced on April 14 to three consecutive life terms.

Daniel Merino, 42, a former resident of Hollywood, was convicted on March 25 of four counts of kidnapping for child molestation, three counts of lewd act upon a child, and one count of attempt lewd act upon a child.

The crimes occurred between Feb. 29, 2008 and Nov. 4, 2009. Merino waited on the street for young girls who were walking to elementary schools. He approached the victims, who were alone, and asked for their help in getting his daughter to school. The defendant took each of the victims to nearby apartment buildings, claiming his daughter was inside. Instead, the victims were molested and in some cases photographed.

Los Angeles Police Department investigators were able to identify the defendant’s car, which was captured in a surveillance video, using new technology that allows law enforcement officers to scan license plates. Merino was later identified by the victims, according to Deputy District Attorney Bradley McCartt, of Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office’s the Sex Crimes Division.