California “Teacher of the Year” Accused of Sexually Abusing 13-Year-Old Student

According to People, California, six-grade teacher Jaqueline Ma has been accused of sexually abusing a former student. Ma has worked at Lincoln Acres Elementary School in National City since 2013 and was named one of the “Teachers of the Year” by the San Diego County Office of Education for the 2022-2023 school year.

Ma, 34, was arrested on March 7 and released on bond but was arrested just two days later on additional felony charges. Ma now faces 15 charges, including lewd acts with a child and possession of child pornography, and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.  

According to Yahoo News, when Jaqueline Ma was arrested, she had a photograph of the victim in her wallet, she had jewelry with his initials, and love letters were discovered in her classroom. Prosecutors also alleged that Ma sent explicit images to the student and coerced him to send explicit photos back to her. According to Deputy District Attorney Drew Hart, the abuse began when the victim was 12. In a court hearing on Monday, March 13, Hart alleged that Ma was “obsessive, possessive, controlling and dangerous."

Ma is currently being held without bail at Las Colinas Detention Facility.