Lawrence police say they have cracked a cold case by catching a suspected serial rapist in Sacramento, Calif.

Police picked up the 38-year-old man wanted for a series of rapes that occurred in Lawrence between 1993 and 1995, after a hit on the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System, an electronic database of DNA profiles.

“The Lawrence Police Department really stayed on top of a cold case,” said Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson. “We linked all three cases back to this suspect.”

The man, who lived in Lawrence between 1992 and 1998, is now suspected of committing three rapes: one each in May 1993, July 1994 and September 1995.

He appeared before a Douglas County District Court judge Wednesday afternoon, and he was formally charged with 11 counts, including rape, aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated burglary. In two of the cases, he’s accused of breaking into the victims’ homes.

Branson said the arrest in the more than decade-old cases came as a shock to the victims.

“They’re surprised and relieved,” he said. “Of course there’s a lot of anxiety that goes along with it. After 10 years you face the potential of having a trial out there.”

Police found their suspect after he was placed on probation for petty theft in Sacramento and required to submit a DNA sample. That sample was then entered into the national database.

“It’s really unusual,” Branson said, “but I think with the advent of technology and more information going into DNA profiles, I think we’re going to see more of this.”

The suspect remains in custody at the Douglas County Jail. His bond was set at $250,000. The judge assigned him a court-appointed attorney and ordered both to appear back in court next Wednesday.

The Journal-World generally does not name people accused of sex crimes unless there is a conviction.