A former San Diego County Teacher who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two elementary students was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Jacqueline Ma, 36, pleaded guilty to two counts of forcible lewd acts with a child under age 14 and one additional count of a lewd act with a child under age 14. Both minors had been students at Lincoln Acres Elementary School.
Ma was also found guilty of possessing sexually explicit material containing a minor.
Investigators said Ma first contacted the 12-year-old boy through video game chat rooms. The sexual assaults occurred in Ma's classroom while the boy's parents believed him to be at an after-school program.
Prosecutors said Ma sent sexually charged messages and made advances toward a second victim—an 11-year-old boy.
Addressing the public and families at her sentencing, the former teacher apologized to the victims and families saying, “I abused my authority, I exerted my power and control over them, and I deceived them.”
Jacqueline Ma was apparently caught after the parent of the 12-year-old boy contacted the police after they found the inappropriate messages on his device.
Ma will be registered as a sex offender and to service all 30 years of her sentence. Deputy District Attorney Drew Hart said the sentence was appropriate.
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