Man, 18, arrested in connection with sexual assault and series of gropings

UNIVERSITY CITY

San Diego police on Thursday arrested an 18-year-old man suspected in a series of gropings, indecent exposures and a sexual assault earlier this year in the University City area.

Officers arrested the suspect, identified as Iniabasi Aniekeme Udom, when they saw him leaving his home in the Carmel Valley area, Lt. Paul Phillips said.

Armed with search warrants, investigators looked through his home and vehicle, and found what police said was additional evidence of the crimes.

“We feel very strongly that this is the suspect,” Phillips said.

Police said they suspect Udom is the assailant in seven incidents — some described as sexual battery and indecent exposure offenses — that targeted women who were jogging or working out in University City.

The incidents happened throughout January and into midFebruary.

One of the encounters was serious enough to be considered a felony, police said. The rest were considered misdemeanors.

Last month, San Diego police released images of the suspect in hopes someone would step forward with his name. At that time, police said they were investigating five incidents, all in February.

In those five cases, the assailant followed a woman from one of three parks — La Jolla Community Park, Doyle Community Park, and Nobel

Athletic Park — and then accosted them outside of their homes or on the street.

Investigators also reached out to UC San Diego police, who did a little research and provided Udom’s name as someone that San Diego police might want to look at. Phillips said campus police had come across Udom after someone reported seeing him behaving oddly. He is not a student at the university.

Police said Udom was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, sexual battery and indecent exposure. He was in the process of being booked into jail Thursday afternoon and his bail amount was not immediately available. TERI FIGUEROA U-T

Bail denied again for teacher charged with sex crimes SOUTH COUNTY

A National City educator named a county “Teacher of the Year” last year and now accused of having a months-long sexual relationship with a young student will not be allowed to bail out of jail, a judge ruled Thursday.

Jacqueline Ma, 34, pleaded not guilty Monday to several felony charges including lewd acts on a child, seduction of a minor and possession of child pornography.

Prosecutors allege the elementary school teacher 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. When she was arrested, police discovered a photograph of the victim in her wallet and letters written to him in her classroom.

At the arraignment, Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Carlos Varela ordered the defendant to remain in custody on a no-bail status, but agreed to set a hearing to revisit her request.

On Thursday, after hearing from attorneys on both sides of the case, Varela again declined to set a bail amount.

One area of dispute is an allegation that Ma attempted to contact the student after bailing out of jail following her initial arrest.

Deputy District Attorney Drew Hart said Thursday there is evidence Ma attempted to reach out to the boy on a social media app while using an old screen name. He said investigators don’t know the substance of the message but “we can tell it was sent.”

Ma’s attorney, Mario Vela, said his client “denies the claim that she attempted to make contact with the alleged victim” after she bailed out.

A teacher at Lincoln Acres Elementary School, Ma had taught fifth and sixth grades in the district since 2013.

National City police said the investigation began March 6 when a parent contacted the department. The parent suspected that her child, now 13, had a “inappropriate” relationship with a former teacher.

Ma was arrested at school the next morning.

She posted $100,000 bail and was released, but police rearrested her two days later.

Hart said the initial arrest was based on evidence of three specific acts. After reviewing her phone, investigators found additional evidence and took her into custody again.

Ma was one of five educators named Teacher of the Year in San Diego County in August.

TERI FIGUEROA

Bluff collapse closes parking lot, staircase ENCINITAS

U-T

A 30- to 40-foot-wide bluff collapse at San Elijo State Beach in Encinitas on Thursday prompted the closure of a nearby parking lot and staircase, officials said.

The cliff failure off South Coast Highway 101, near Birmingham Drive, occurred between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., said Jorge Moreno, a spokesperson for California State Parks, in an email.

No injuries were reported, Moreno said.

The north day-use parking lot near the collapse site was closed Thursday. Officials asked residents to not use the northern staircase to access the beach.

Pictures posted to social media show the beach site roped off and signs warning people of dangerous conditions.

“As a reminder to the public, rockslides and cliff collapses occur without notice,” Moreno said.

He added later: “State Parks encourages all visitors to be mindful of their surroundings when visiting and keep a safe distance from the bluffs.”

CALEB LUNETTA U-T

Suspect arrested in wounding of man at party COLLEGE AREA

A 21-year-old man accused of shooting and wounding another man during a fight at a College Area party in October has been arrested, San Diego police said.

The shooting occurred at a home on Pembroke Drive near Rockford Drive about 1:40 a.m. on Oct. 22, after a disturbance during a party escalated into a fight, police said.

That’s when a man pulled out a gun and fired three shots, striking a 22-year-old man in his arm.

The victim underwent surgery at a hospital and survived the gunshot wound, police said.

Detectives identified the suspected shooter — police didn’t say how — and arrested him Wednesday when officers and SWAT team members served a search warrant at his apartment in Chula Vista. He was later booked into jail on suspicion of attempted murder.

Anyone with information about the case was asked to call a detective at (858) 495-7929 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

DAVID HERNANDEZ U-T