A former award-winning California teacher has learned she will spend the next 30 years behind bars for sex crimes involving underage boys.
A 36-year-old former ‘Teacher of the Year’ at Lincoln Acres Elementary School in San Diego, Jacqueline Ma, pleaded guilty in February to sexually abusing two of her sixth-grade students, both under the age of 14.
Ma also confessed to a lewd act involving the second child and another count of possessing material containing a minor engaged in or simulating sexual conduct.
On Friday, Ma was sentenced to 30 years to life in state prison for sex crimes involving the two minors, who were 11 and 12 years old at the time.
Prior to her sentencing, Ma had the chance to speak in court, where she tearfully expressed her deep shame for her actions to the public and her family, as reported by NBC San Diego.
‘I abused my authority, I exerted my power and control over them, I deceived them,’ she added, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. ‘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.’
With her hands in cuffs, the former top educator apologized to the victims and their families, calling her actions selfish and acknowledging the lasting trauma they would cause for both the victims and the wider community.
Jacqueline Ma, a 36-year-old former ‘Teacher of the Year’ at Lincoln Acres Elementary School in San Diego, California, learned that she will spend the next 30 years behind bars for sex crimes involving underage boys (pictured at sentencing)
In February, Ma pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two of her sixth-grade students – both under the age of 14 – in her classroom at Lincoln Acres Elementary School as well as admitting to a lewd act involving the second child, and another count of possessing material containing a minor engaged in or simulating sexual conduct
On Friday, Ma was sentenced to 30 years to life in state prison for sex crimes involving the two minors – who were 11 and 12 years old at the time – and ordered to serve the entire 30 year sentence before a parole board considers her release
With rows of seats filled with family members and members of the public, Ma admitted she had ‘disgraced the teaching profession’ while simultaneously deceiving trusting parents.
‘I lied to their faces while secretly abusing their sons,’ Ma said, the Union-Tribune reported. ‘I just pray for extra protection and strength for all those affected.’
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Ma groomed the boys by giving them gifts, food and special attention – even going as far as to complete their homework for them.
The judge described her actions in court as more than just a ‘single lapse of judgement’, characterizing them instead as a ‘prolonged pattern of child sexual abuse’.
However, he noted that although the abuse occurred in plain sight, Ma was shielded from scrutiny because of her status as an award-winning teacher, the Union-Tribune reported.
‘This isn’t just a one-day accident, mistake, bad judgement or evil act,’ Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Enrique Camarena said.
‘The sentencing encompasses punishment for a prolonged pattern of child sexual abuse.’
Patrick Griffin, Ma’s defense attorney, said his client chose to plead guilty and accept a sentence of 30 years to life in prison ‘because it was the right thing to do’, ultimately sparing the children from the trauma of a trial, NBC reported.
With her hands in cuffs, the former top educator apologized to the victims and their families, calling her actions selfish and acknowledging the lasting trauma they would cause for both the victims and the wider community
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Ma groomed the boys by giving them gifts, food and special attention – even going as far as to complete their homework for them
The judge described her actions in court as more than just a ‘single lapse of judgement’, characterizing them instead as a ‘prolonged pattern of child sexual abuse’
Griffin stated that Ma has been undergoing therapy while in custody ‘to understand what went on here’, but added that she ‘does not expect forgiveness’ from the victims or their families.
In addition to paying thousands of dollars in fines and registering as a sex offender, Ma was ordered to serve the full 30 years of her sentence before a parole board will consider her release, the Union-Tribune reported.
After the hearing, Deputy District Attorney Drew Hart stated that the sentence appeared appropriate, despite Ma’s accountability and the remorse she expressed inside the courtroom.
Although neither boy attended the hearing, nor did their family members make statements in court, Hart conveyed the sentiments of one of the boys’ mothers.
‘She cannot believe she trusted her and is otherwise speechless,’ Hart said. ‘These parents knew Ms. Ma. They knew who she was, and they trusted her.’
‘And so finding out not just that their child was abused, but finding out that they were abused by someone whom they trusted with their children and to care for their children, was incredibly devastating,’ he added.
In 2022, the former sixth-grade teacher at Lincoln Acres Elementary was one of five educators named Teacher of the Year in San Diego County.
Just seven months after receiving the award, she was arrested after the parent of the 12-year-old student reached out to police to report a suspected inappropriate relationship.
After the hearing, Deputy District Attorney Drew Hart (pictured) stated that the sentence appeared appropriate, despite Ma’s accountability and the remorse she expressed inside the courtroom
Patrick Griffin, Ma’s defense attorney, said his client chose to plead guilty and accept a sentence of 30 years to life in prison ‘because it was the right thing to do’, ultimately sparing the children from the trauma of a trial
Just seven months after receiving the ‘Teacher of the Year’ award in 2022, Ma was arrested after the parent of the 12-year-old student reached out to police to report a suspected inappropriate relationship
The married woman was said to have had a months-long relationship with the boy and sent him explicit pictures of her asking him to do the same back.
Prosecutors revealed that Ma used video game chat rooms and a family tablet to communicate with the 12-year-old victim, with the physical relationship beginning in late 2022, the Union-Tribune reported.
The boy’s parents reportedly did not allow him to use social media or have his own electronic devices.
However, investigators discovered that Ma gained access to him by creating an unsanctioned after-school program and communicating through a school-approved chat application.
A few months later, the boy’s parents discovered the messages, which soon became key evidence in the case against Ma.
In the text messages, the former teacher became frustrated with the victim when he didn’t message back quick enough. Investigators also found explicit images within its contents.
During a hearing in December 2023, detectives read aloud the messages between the two, in which Ma professed her love for the boy, The San Diego Tribune reported.
The child wrote: ‘Sometimes I think you don’t understand that I am a kid still and this is my only real relationship.’
The sexual assaults of the then-12-year-old boy reportedly took place in Ma’s classroom over the course of a three-month period, during which the boy’s parents believed he was participating in an after-school basketball program
An investigation into Ma led to the discovery of a second, 11-year-old victim, leading to additional charges filed
Ma was accused of also coercing the then-12-year-old victim into sending videos back to her, with prosecutors alleging she was ‘grooming him, giving him gifts, helping him with school and praising him’, Hart said after her arrest in 2023.
Hart stated that Ma’s grooming tactics were ultimately intended to sustain a relationship with the child for several months – and in one case, for ‘more than a year’.
The sexual assaults reportedly took place in Ma’s classroom over the course of a three-month period, during which the boy’s parents believed he was participating in an after-school basketball program.
An investigation into Ma led to the discovery of a second, 11-year-old victim, leading to additional charges filed.
At the preliminary hearing, prosecutors alleged that Ma exchanged a series of sexually explicit text messages with her second victim, identified in court documents as John Doe 2.
John Doe 2 told police that he and Ma had arranged a ‘plan’ for him to meet her in her classroom in 2020, NBC News reported.
According to the boy, when he arrived, Ma removed her shirt and attempted to get close to him, but he became frightened and left the room.
In March of 2023, Ma was initially charged with three counts of oral copulation with a child under 14, and three for lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14. She pleaded not guilty.
Ma was accused of also coercing the then-12-year-old victim into sending videos back to her, with prosecutors alleging she was ‘grooming him, giving him gifts, helping him with school and praising him’
In a court appearance on March 13, 2023, Deputy DA Hart said Ma was ‘obsessive, possessive, controlling, and dangerous’, noting how when she was arrested, she had a photo of the victim in her wallet
Hart stated that Ma’s grooming tactics were ultimately intended to sustain a relationship with the child for several months – and in one case, for ‘more than a year’
In a court appearance on March 13, 2023, Deputy DA Hart said Ma was ‘obsessive, possessive, controlling, and dangerous’.
‘When she was arrested, she had a photograph of the victim in her wallet, she had jewelry with his initials, and love letters were discovered in her classroom directed at the child,’ said Hart.
At the time, the judge denied bail and pretrial release.
In February, two months before her trial was due to take place, Ma changed her plea to guilty on two lewd acts with a child under the age of 14.
She also admitted to a lewd act involving the second child and another count of possessing material containing a minor engaged in or simulating sexual conduct.
In a previous blurb about her ‘Teacher of the Year’ award, Lincoln Acres Elementary School Principal Kathy Melanese said: ‘I can’t imagine a more qualified and passionate educator to receive this honor.’
‘The creativity, initiative, collaboration, and 100 percent dedication Ms. Ma has for her students and the school is immeasurable,’ she added.
‘When students leave Ms. Ma’s room, they are more confident students, more engaged citizens and more thoughtful adolescents who know they are loved.’
