This week, a California “Teacher of the Year” award recipient was taken into custody by police for allegedly committing sexual abuse against a former student.
Jacqueline Ma, a 34-year-old teacher at Lincoln Acres Elementary School in National City, California, was accused of three counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 in addition to charges of oral copulation with a child that is under 14.
Ma first posted bail on Tuesday, but following a further investigation, authorities had sufficient evidence to take Jacqueline Ma into custody yet again for additional felony offenses, National City police announced in a news report on Thursday.
Ma was subsequently detained on Thursday in Las Colinas Detention Facility, for an extra fourteen accusations, including lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, possession of child pornography, sexual exploitation of a minor, and prevention and dissuading of a witness, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s jail records.
The parent of a 13-year-old contacted National City police Monday evening as they believed their child was having an inappropriate relationship with a former teacher. Police refrained from providing further details of the accusation due to the victim’s age and the ongoing investigation.
The National School District Superintendent, Leighangela Brady, stated that the school district is only aware of one victim and that the individual is no longer a district student. Brady also mentioned that the district would cooperate with law enforcement and do everything possible to prioritize the students’ safety, needs, and education.
Ma had been employed as a teacher at the school since 2013 and was honored as one of the “Teachers of the Year” for the 2022-2023 school year by the San Diego County Office of Education.
Kathy Melanese, Principal of Lincoln Acres Elementary School, expressed her admiration for Ms. Ma receiving her award. She praised the educator’s creativity, initiative, collaboration, and dedication to her students and school. Ms. Ma’s efforts are reflected in her students, who leave her room more confident, engaged, and aware of their worth.
Since that time, detectives “developed probable cause to re-arrest Jacqueline Ma on additional felony charges,” National City police stated in a news release Thursday.
Ma was booked Thursday into Las Colinas Detention Facility on suspicion of an additional 14 counts, including two lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, seven counts of possession of child pornography, four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, and one count of prevention and dissuading of a witness, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s jail log.