Molest Complaints by McMartin Kin Admitted

The 80-year-old matriarch of the McMartin Pre-School acknowledged on the witness stand Monday that one of her own granddaughters alleged that her children had been molested at the family-run school.

“The family was very upset to find we had a traitor in the family,� said Virginia McMartin in the concluding day of her unusual videotaped testimony at the molestation trial of her daughter and grandson.

The subject of the granddaughter, who had not been mentioned before at the trial, was raised by Deputy Dist. Atty. Lael Rubin during her second cross-examination of McMartin.

“You are aware your granddaughter believes her children were molested at the McMartin Pre-School?� Rubin asked.

“Yes,� McMartin replied. “I know she was brainwashed by Kee McFarlane and the other therapists,� referring to workers at Childrens Institute International who interviewed McMartin pupils about alleged molestations.

McMartin’s daughter, Peggy McMartin Buckey, 60, and her grandson, Raymond Buckey, 29, are on trial charged with 100 counts of molestation and conspiracy at the now defunct school in Manhattan Beach.

Testifying on Tape

The white-haired witness, who came to court in a wheelchair, is testifying on videotape in case she dies before the defense gets the chance to call her as a witness. Jurors were not present for the videotaped testimony.

The granddaughter referred to in court was the daughter of McMartin’s now-dead son. She had not been mentioned before and a defense lawyer objected to questioning about her.

But Superior Court Judge William Pounders said the subject was relevant to show McMartin’s state of mind.

The old woman said she had been informed of her granddaughter’s allegations by other members of the family in 1984.

“They were very surprised,� she said. “After all, she substitute-taught at school and knew these things couldn’t go on.�

The McMartin school was closed after parents raised allegations that hundreds of children were molested at the once prestigious school. Charges were filed against seven teachers, including the school founder, and all were bound over for trial after a two-year preliminary hearing. However, Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner dropped the charges against all except the Buckeys, mother and son.

The claims by the granddaughter are not included in charges against the defendants, nor has she ever been called as a witness.

Focus on Diaries

Monday’s questioning, first by attorney Dean Gits and then by Rubin, focused on daily diaries McMartin kept on activities at the school.

In a diary entry for Sept. 8, 1981, McMartin had noted, “Ray in trouble.� Rubin sought an explanation.

The witness said she believed it referred to “something at home,� and didn’t know what it was.

“I didn’t live with them. I didn’t butt into their business,� she said.

Rubin has previously alleged that the grandmother knew her grandson had a problem with molesting children but allowed him to work at her school nonetheless. McMartin vehemently denied this.

At one point, she was asked by Gits about a diary entry in August, 1984, which referred to a “witch lady.�

“I probably was referring to somebody in this case, some part of the prosecution,� she said, “because as far as I’m concerned, they’re all witch ladies.�