A former “Teacher of the Year” in California, Jacqueline Ma, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Friday for sexually abusing two of her sixth-grade students. Ma, 36, had pleaded guilty in February to multiple charges, including forced indecency and child sexual abuse material, according to the District Attorney’s Office in San Diego County.
District Attorney Summer Stefan condemned Ma’s actions, stating that she had violated the trust of her students in a deeply traumatic manner. She emphasized the lasting negative effects on the victims and deemed the 30-year sentence appropriate.
Ma previously taught at Lincoln Acres Primary School in Kunitachi and received recognition as the San Diego County “Teacher of the Year” for the 2022-2023 school year.
Before her sentencing, Ma expressed remorse in court, admitting that she had abused her authority and manipulated her students. “Boys of this age should be playing outside and feeling comfortable… I tore their childhood apart,” she said, visibly emotional. She referred to her actions as selfish and expressed shame regarding her profession.
The district attorney’s office revealed that the case began when the parents of a 12-year-old boy discovered inappropriate messages on a family tablet between him and Ma. This led to Ma’s arrest in March 2023.
Prosecutors noted that Ma had groomed the boys over an extended period, using gifts and special attention to gain their trust before committing the abuse. In the case of the 12-year-old, the abuse continued in the classroom for three months.
Further investigations indicated that Ma had also targeted another victim, an 11-year-old boy, in 2020. District Attorney Stephen made a statement hoping the sentence would provide a measure of justice for the victims and their families, highlighting the grievous nature of Ma’s actions.
Jacqueline Ma must serve her 30-year sentence, after which she may be eligible for parole.
