Former ‘Teacher of the Year' Sentenced to 30 Years for Sexually Abusing Students: 'I Ripped Away Their Childhood'
Former "Teacher of the Year" Jacqueline Ma, 36, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually abusing two of her former students
Ma was sentenced on May 8 following her arrest over allegations of grooming and sexual abuse of two young boys in March 2023
"I abused my authority, I exerted my power and control over them, and I deceived them," Ma reportedly said in court before the sentencingA California former sixth-grade teacher has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for sexually abusing two of her young former students.
Jacqueline Ma, who was named one of the "Teachers of the Year" in 2022 and taught at the Lincoln Acres Elementary School in San Diego, pleaded guilty in February to two counts of forcible lewd act on a child, one count of lewd act on a child and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.
Ma, 36, was arrested in March 2023 after the mother of one of her former students accused her of sending inappropriate messages to her son. She was sentenced on May 8.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a statement, 'This defendant violated the trust she had with her students in the most extreme and traumatic way possible and her actions are despicable. Her victims will have to deal with a lifetime of negative effects and her 30-year sentence is appropriate.'
'No child deserves what this defendant did, and I hope this sentence brings a measure of justice to the victims, their families and the community that was left reeling from this defendant's crimes," the statement continued.
The DA stated in a press release that Ma groomed one of her minor students for more than a year before performing sexual acts on him at the age of 12.
After the boy's parents didn't allow him to have social media or electronics, Ma set up an 'unsanctioned after-school program and directing him to communicate with her through a school chat application.' The sexual abuse continued in the classroom for three months while the boy's parents were unaware, per the release.
In 2020, Ma sexually assaulted another boy aged 11 at the time. She continued to groom both young boys 'with gifts, food and special attention' and 'gained the trust of the parents with her reputation and personal investment in their academic development,' the DA said.
Ma began teaching at Lincoln Acres Elementary School in National City in 2013. She was named one of the "Teachers of the Year" by the San Diego County Office of Education for the 2022-2023 school year.
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Following her arrest in 2023, prosecutors alleged that Ma sent explicit images to the student and coerced him to send explicit videos back to her.
Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Enrique Camarena said in court before the sentencing that the former teacher was 'protected from scrutiny due to her status as an award-winning teacher,' the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
Ma also addressed her crimes in court, saying per the outlet, '[I] disgraced the teaching profession. I abused my authority, I exerted my power and control over them, and I deceived them … I ripped away their childhood.'
The sentencing comes after Ma also pleaded guilty to allegations of substantial sexual conduct and having multiple victims in February.
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