Latest news with #JacquelineMa
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
Toronto Sun
13-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
Former teacher of the year gets 30 years for sexually assaulting students
Published May 13, 2025 • Last updated 11 minutes ago • 1 minute read Teacher Jacqueline Ma, accused of six counts of sexual misconduct against a child under the age of 14. Photo by San Diego County Office of Education SAN DIEGO — A onetime county teacher of the year at a Southern California elementary school has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for grooming and sexually assaulting two young boys on campus. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Jacqueline Ma, who taught at Lincoln Acres Elementary in National City near San Diego, pleaded guilty in February to two counts of forcible lewd acts on a child, one count of a lewd act on a child, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material. She was arrested in March 2023 after the mother of one of the victims reported inappropriate messages she found between her son and Ma on a family tablet. Investigators learned that Ma had groomed the boy for more than a year before she sexually abused him when he was 12 years old, according to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office. Investigators also discovered that she had groomed and sexually assaulted an 11-year-old boy in 2020. 'This defendant violated the trust she had with her students in the most extreme and traumatic way possible and her actions are despicable,' District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a statement last week. 'Her victims will have to deal with a lifetime of negative effects and her 30-year sentence is appropriate.' Ma had taught in the district since 2013 and had a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's in education, both from UC San Diego, according to her teacher of the year profile in the San Diego Union-Tribune. The award was given for the 2022-23 academic year by the San Diego County Office of Education. Toronto Maple Leafs Editorials Canada Toronto & GTA Ontario
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
California 'teacher of the year' sexually assaulted elementary school boys. She gets 30-year term
A San Diego County educator who once was named teacher of the year has been sentenced to 30 years to life for grooming and sexually assaulting two young boys in her elementary school classroom in National City. Jacqueline Ma took advantage of her role as a fifth- and sixth-grade teacher at Lincoln Acres Elementary to manipulate her victims, luring them with gifts, special attention and even completing their homework, according to the San Diego County district attorney's office. When one of her victims was not allowed access to social media or personal electronic devices at home, she went so far as to set up an unsanctioned after-school program and directed him to message her through a school chat application, prosecutors said. The 36-year-old teacher pleaded guilty in February to two counts of forcible lewd acts on a child, one count of a lewd act on a child, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material. Read more: Los Angeles jury awards $48 million to students abused by teacher at South El Monte school She was arrested by the National City Police Department in March 2023 after the mother of one of the victims reported inappropriate messages she found between her son and Ma on a family tablet. Investigators learned that Ma had groomed the boy for more than a year before sexually abusing him when he was 12 years old. Ma performed sexual acts on the boy in her classroom over a three-month period, while his parents thought he was participating in an after-school basketball program, prosecutors said. Investigators also discovered that she had groomed and sexually assaulted a second victim, an 11-year-old boy, in 2020. "This defendant violated the trust she had with her students in the most extreme and traumatic way possible and her actions are despicable," Dist. Atty. Summer Stephan said in a statement. "Her victims will have to deal with a lifetime of negative effects and her 30-year sentence is appropriate." Ma was named teacher of the year for the 2022-23 academic year by the San Diego County Office of Education. She earned her bachelor's degree in biology and master's degree in education from UC San Diego and had taught fifth and sixth grades in the National School District since 2013, according to a profile in the San Diego Union-Tribune. She used her reputation as an above-and-beyond educator who was personally invested in her students' success to gain the trust of victims' parents, prosecutors said. "No child deserves what this defendant did," said Stephan. "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." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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.
