Ex-teacher sentenced for abuse

Once honored as one of San Diego County’s top educators, a former South Bay teacher was sentenced May 9 to 30 years to life in state prison for sexually abusing two of her students.

Jacqueline Ma, 36, who taught at Lincoln Acres Elementary School in National City, pleaded guilty on Feb. 5 to two counts of forcible lewd acts on a child, one count of lewd act on a child, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material. The charges included allegations of substantial sexual conduct and multiple victims. She had been scheduled to stand trial in April.

“This defendant violated the trust she had with her students in the most extreme and traumatic way possible, and her actions are despicable,” said San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan. “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.”

In March 2023, a victim’s mother discovered inappropriate messages between her son and Ma on a family tablet. Ma had groomed the 12-year-old for over a year, using an unsanctioned after-school program to gain access. The abuse took place in her classroom for three months.

Further investigation revealed she also abused an 11-year-old student in 2020. Ma used gifts, food, and special attention to manipulate students and earn parents’ trust.
San Diego Deputy District Attorney Andrew Hart prosecuted the case.