Latest news with #LincolnAcresElementarySchool
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
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. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. 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. Read the original article on People
Sky News AU
12-05-2025
- Sky News AU
Disgraced teacher Jacqueline Ma gets 30 years in prison for sexually abusing elementary students
She went from Teacher of the Year to having the book thrown at her. Jacqueline Ma, 36, is heading to prison for grooming and sexually abusing a pair of elementary school students. On Friday, a judge sentenced her to 30 years behind bars, according to the San Diego Union Tribune. Ma, San Diego County's Teacher of the Year in late 2022, was arrested in April 2023 and pleaded guilty in February to two counts each of forcible lewd acts on a child and possession of matter depicting a minor engaging in sexual conduct. The disgraced educator taught fifth- and sixth-graders at Lincoln Acres Elementary School in National City. At her sentencing Friday, Ma said she was 'deeply ashamed of my actions,' and apologized for ripping 'away their childhood.' 'Instead of following the path of what a teacher should be, I let my selfishness override the boys' best interests,' she told the court through tears. 'I just pray for an extra hand of protection and strength to all of those I've hurt. I'm so sorry.' Police began investigating Ma after the mother of a 12-year-old boy she'd been grooming contacted authorities upon finding love letters and suggestive text messages she'd written to the child. The grooming occurred over a 10-month period, prosecutors said. Years before, police claim Ma had also groomed an 11-year-old boy. Neither victim or their parents attended Friday's sentencing. Originally published as Disgraced teacher Jacqueline Ma gets 30 years in prison for sexually abusing elementary students
Roya News
11-05-2025
- Roya News
Former ‘teacher of the year' gets 30 years to life for sexually abusing students
Jacqueline Ma, a former San Diego County 'Teacher of the Year,' was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison on May 9, 2025, for sexually abusing two elementary school students. The sentencing occurred at Chula Vista Superior Court after Ma pleaded guilty in February 2025 to four felony counts: two counts of forcible lewd acts on a child under 14, one count of a lewd act on a child under 14, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material. Pattern of grooming, betrayal Ma, 36, abused two sixth-grade boys, aged 11 and 12, at Lincoln Acres Elementary School in National City, California. The investigation began in March 2023 when a parent discovered inappropriate messages between Ma and their 12-year-old son. A second victim, abused in 2020 at age 11, was later identified. Prosecutors stated Ma used gifts, food, special attention, hidden apps, and 'vanish mode' messages to groom and communicate with the victims. Evidence included love letters, a photo of one victim in Ma's wallet, jewelry with his initials, and child sexual abuse material. The abuse of one victim spanned 10 months, with assaults occurring in Ma's classroom over three months. Tearful apology in court During the sentencing, Ma delivered a tearful apology, stating, 'I abused my authority, deceived these boys and their families, and ripped away their childhood.' She acknowledged disgracing the teaching profession. San Diego Superior Court Judge Enrique Camarena described the crimes as a 'prolonged pattern of child sexual abuse.' Deputy District Attorney Drew Hart reported that one victim's mother was 'speechless' upon learning of the abuse. District Attorney Summer Stephan called the 30-year sentence appropriate. The victims' families did not attend the hearing.
NDTV
11-05-2025
- NDTV
US Teacher Gets 30 Years In Jail For Sexual Abuse Of 2 Minor Students
Jacqueline Ma, a 36-year-old former teacher at Lincoln Acres Elementary School and previously honoured as one of San Diego County's top educators, was sentenced Friday to 30 years to life in state prison for sex crimes against two minors. According to the San Diego Union Tribune, prosecutors stated that Ma groomed two boys and began a sexual relationship with one when he was 12. Prosecutors said Ma groomed the 12-year-old boy over 10 months, sending him love letters and suggestive texts, which prompted the boy's mother to alert authorities. She sexually assaulted him in her classroom over three months while his parents believed he was in an after-school basketball program. They also alleged that years earlier, Ma groomed an 11-year-old boy. She had groomed young boys with "gifts, food and special attention and even completed their homework for them," the district attorney's office said. The teacher pleaded guilty in February to two counts of forcible lewd acts on a child, one count of lewd acts on a child and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material, the San Diego County District Attorney's Office said in a news release. "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," District Attorney Summer Stephan said. "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," Mr Stephan added. At her sentencing, Ma expressed remorse, stating she was "deeply ashamed" and apologised for taking away the children's innocence, acknowledging the harm her actions had caused. "I abused my authority, I exerted my power and control over them, and I deceived them. Boys this age should be playing outside, feeling carefree … I ripped away their childhood. Instead of following the path of what a teacher should be, I let my selfishness override the boys' best interests. I just pray for an extra hand of protection and strength for all of those I've hurt. I'm so sorry," Ma said while handcuffed and crying in court. Ma, a former San Diego County "Teacher of the Year" for 2022-2023, taught fifth- and sixth-graders at Lincoln Acres Elementary School in National City before facing controversy.
Filipino Times
11-05-2025
- Filipino Times
Former ‘Teacher of the Year' sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually abusing students
Former San Diego County 'Teacher of the Year' Jacqueline Ma has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually abusing two elementary school students. Ma, 36, admitted to two counts of forcible lewd acts with a child under 14 and one count of possessing explicit material involving a minor. Both victims were students at Lincoln Acres Elementary School, where Ma had been teaching fifth and sixth grades since 2013. She was recognized as the Teacher of the Year in August 2022 but was arrested in March 2023 after the mother of a 12-year-old boy reported finding suggestive messages from Ma to her child using video game chat rooms. According to the District Attorney's Office, Ma groomed the boys by giving them gifts, food, special attention, and even completed homework for the children, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. During the trial, Ma expressed remorse, saying she 'disgraced the teaching profession,' and apologized for 'ripping away their childhood.' Authorities also claimed that years earlier, Ma had groomed another boy who was 11 at the time. Neither of the victims nor their parents attended Friday's sentencing. Ma concluded her statement by saying, 'I just pray for extra protection and strength for all those affected.' Ma will be required to serve the full 30-year sentence before becoming eligible for parole. In addition to prison time, she must pay fines and register as a sex offender.
