In court, a former California “Teacher of the Year” sobbed as she entered a guilty plea to sexually abusing two elementary school pupils.
According to Fox 5 San Diego, Jacqueline Ma, 35, of San Diego, was arrested and charged in 2023 with having sex with two of her students, who were 11 and 12 years old at the time.
Prosecutors, who had previously referred to her as “obsessive” and “dangerous,” claimed that one of the connections lasted for months, according to KGTV.
According to an earlier CBS8 report, Deputy District Attorney Drew Hart stated, “She had a picture of the victim in her wallet when she was arrested, she had jewelry with his initials, and love letters were found in her classroom.”
Prosecutors claimed that Ma forced the student to submit her sexual recordings after sending him explicit photographs. According to Hart, the victim was 12 years old when the inappropriate behavior started.
In April, Ma’s trial was scheduled to start.
However, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune, Ma entered a guilty plea to four felony counts on Wednesday, February 5, in an unexpected plea agreement with prosecutors for a reduced sentence.
According to the Union-Tribune, these included two counts of lewd actions with a kid under the age of 14 under duress, one indecent act involving a second child under the age of 14, and possession of materials showing a youngster engaging in or mimicking sexual activity.
According to footage from Fox 5 San Diego, she answered, “Guilty,” as tears streamed down her cheeks when the judge questioned her if she was guilty or not.
According to Fox 5 San Diego, Hart stated, “From our office’s perspective, it was very important that these be charged as not just sex offenses but sex offenses done under duress and that’s what she pleaded to.”
According to the Union-Tribune, Ma began teaching fifth and sixth grade in the National School District in 2013.
Prosecutors claimed that when the abuse occurred, both of her victims were pupils at Lincoln Acres Elementary School, where Ma taught.
She was one of five educators recognized as San Diego County Teacher of the Year for the 2022–2023 academic year in August 2022.
According to Fox 5 San Diego, Hart stated, “This was very significant to us, not just because she won an award, but because of who she was in the community.” “We believe this plea agreement sends a message to the community that there will be serious consequences for using a position of trust and good faith with local parents to commit sex offenses against children, not just about sex offenses on children.”
Ma might be imprisoned for 30 years to life.
On May 9, she is expected to be sentenced.
