‘Teacher of the Year’ charged with crimes against another child victim

(Jacqueline Ma) Facebook/Chula Vista Superior Court

Teri Figueroa 

The San Diego Union-Tribune 

(TNS)

A National City Elementary School Teacher Is Accused of Having an Inappropriate Relationship with a Second Child, Among Other Charges

 

After being accused of having a sexual relationship with a former student, National City, California, elementary school teacher Jacqueline Ma, 34, is now facing additional charges involving a second child.

 

Four new charges, including two relating to the second child, a boy under the age of 14, have been added to Jacqueline Ma's record as a result of a recent criminal complaint.

 

The lawsuit claims that one event took place in a classroom in February; however, it is unclear from the complaint if the second child was a student.

 

The potential penalties for Ma increase with the addition of a second victim under the law. She could now spend the rest of her life in prison after previously being sentenced to up to 29 years in prison for previous charges.

 

Ma entered a not-guilty plea to the newly added counts on Wednesday in Chula Vista Superior Court and remains in custody without bail.

 

Her attorney declined to comment on the further charges when reached by phone on Thursday.

 

The county recognized Jacqueline Ma as the "Teacher of the Year" the previous year. She was initially detained in March, though, and was charged with several felonies, including possessing child pornography, engaging in sexual activity with a child, and seducing a minor.

 

Prosecutors said that Ma, a sixth-grade teacher at Lincoln Acres Elementary, had a sexual relationship with a young student for several months during her initial arraignment in March.

 

She emailed the youngster improper photos of herself and asked him to do the same, the authorities said, even telling him to record sexual activities at home.

 

The police were notified by the child's parent of the suspected relationship, which resulted in Ma's arrest and the subsequent investigation.

 

The victim's photo and letters written to him in Ma's classroom were found in her wallet by the authorities after she was taken into custody.

 

She also had jewelry with the boy's initials on it.

 

After her original arrest, Ma was released after posting $100,000 bail. She was detained once more by the police, however, two days later for attempting to contact the boy while she was out on bail.

 

A judge then declined to approve her bail, highlighting the breach of trust given her role as a teacher.

 

Ma's preliminary hearing has been delayed until October due to the addition of these new charges.

 

The San Diego Union-Tribune first published this story.