Jacqueline Ma, a former San Diego County “Teacher of the Year,” has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for sexually abusing two of her elementary school students.
The 36-year-old ex-educator pleaded guilty in February to multiple felony counts, including lewd acts on a child and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Ma taught fifth and sixth grade at Lincoln Acres Elementary School in National City. Her arrest in April 2023 followed a report from a concerned parent who discovered explicit messages between Ma and her 12-year-old son.
Investigators later uncovered a pattern of grooming and abuse involving another boy, aged 11, dating back to 2020.
According to the New York Post, the grooming occurred over a 10-month period.
During the sentencing hearing on May 9, Ma tearfully acknowledged her crimes, stating, “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.”
Judge Enrique Camarena condemned Ma’s actions as a “prolonged pattern of child sexual abuse,” emphasizing that her status as a respected educator allowed her misconduct to go unnoticed. Ma will be eligible for parole after serving 30 years and must register as a sex offender.
More from NBC San Diego:
Ma, who was named one of San Diego County’s 2022 “teachers of the year,” was arrested in early 2023. She previously faced up to a potential 165-years-to-life prison sentence before pleading guilty earlier this year to four sex crime counts, including lewd acts on a child and possessing matter depicting a minor engaging in sexual conduct.
At her sentencing hearing in Chula Vista Superior Court, Ma issued a tearful apology in which she said, “I am deeply ashamed of my actions.”
She said she “manipulated” and “deceived” the boys and said the boys’ families trusted her.
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Her defense attorney, Patrick Griffin, said his client pleaded guilty and agreed to 30 years to life in prison “because it was the right thing to do” and would spare the victims from having to go forward with a trial. Griffin said she’s been undergoing therapy while in custody “to understand what went on here” but “does not expect forgiveness” from the victims or their families.
Neither boy attended the hearing, nor did their family members make statements in court.
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