Teri Figueroa
The San Diego Union-Tribune
(TNS)
A National City elementary teacher accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a former student now faces charges involving a second child.
A criminal complaint filed this week against Jacqueline Ma, 34, adds four new charges, including two charges related to the second child, a boy under the age of 14. The complaint does not say whether the second child was a student, but does allege that one incident occurred in a classroom in February.
Under the law, the addition of a second victim means Ma — who had faced up to 29 years in prison arising from the prior charges — now faces the potential of life in prison, if convicted.
Ma pleaded not guilty to the additional charges Wednesday in Chula Vista Superior Court. She remains jailed without bail.
Her attorney, reached by phone Thursday, declined to comment on the new charges.
Named by the county last year as a “Teacher of the Year,” Ma was first arrested in March and charged with several felony counts, including lewd acts on a child, seduction of a minor and possession of child pornography.
When she was initially arraigned in March, prosecutors alleged that Ma, a sixth-grade teacher at Lincoln Acres Elementary, had a months-long sexual relationship with a young student.
Prosecutors alleged she sent the boy “illicit” photographs of herself and asked him to do the same, and directed him to record himself engaged in sex acts at home.
The child’s parent contacted police to report the suspected relationship.
When Ma was arrested, police found the victim’s photo in her wallet and letters written to him in her classroom. She also had jewelry bearing his initials.
After her initial arrest, she posted $100,000 bail and was released, but police rearrested her two days later, accusing her of trying communicate with the boy while out on bail. Once Ma was back in custody, a judge declined to set bail for her, noting that Ma had been in a position of trust.
With the newly added charges, Ma’s preliminary hearing was rescheduled for October.
This story originally appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune.
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