San Diego ex-teacher Jacqueline Ma modified her plea to responsible Wednesday because the county’s former “Instructor of the 12 months” averted a trial over her sexual abuse of two college students who have been 11 and 12 on the time.
The plea settlement stated Ma, 35, faces a potential jail sentence of 30 years to life when she returns to courtroom in Might.
“This was very vital to us, not simply because she received an award, however due to who she was in the neighborhood,” Deputy District Lawyer Drew Coronary heart stated after the listening to.
“We predict this plea deal sends a message,” he continued. “Not nearly intercourse offenses on kids, however while you leverage a place of belief, while you leverage good religion with dad and mom in the neighborhood and also you do that to their kids, there shall be vital penalties to pay.”
The previous sixth-grader trainer at Lincoln Acres Elementary Faculty was arrested in March 2023 after a dad or mum suspected her son was having an inappropriate relationship with Ma.
Ma was initially launched on bail following her arrest, however she was taken again into custody shortly afterward as a result of prosecutors stated they discovered proof of kid pornography.
Prosecutors stated the misconduct went on for nearly a 12 months with one of many victims.
“Don’t forget my underwear is in your pocket,” learn a message between Ma and a former scholar, in accordance with a detective’s 2023 courtroom testimony. “I like you too, like I’m really in love with you.”
Ma was named the 2022 “Instructor of 12 months” by the San Diego County Workplace of Training.
Leighangela Brady, the superintendent of the Nationwide Faculty District, launched an announcement following the responsible plea.
“Two years in the past, once we discovered of the allegations of inappropriate bodily exercise between this former educator and a minor, we have been shocked to our core,” Ms. Brady wrote. “Though she was instantly positioned on unpaid standing and has been detained ever since, I wish to guarantee our college group that with this responsible plea, we at the moment are capable of formally transfer to terminate her employment with the district.”
