Mother, Son Plead Not Guilty to All 99 Molestation Charges
Standing shoulder to shoulder in Los Angeles Superior Court, the mother and son who remain as defendants in the McMartin Pre-School molestation case pleaded innocent today to 99 charges of child molestation and one count of conspiracy.
“I’m not guilty your honor,” Raymond Buckey, 27, who faces 81 counts, firmly told Superior Court Judge Aurelio Munoz. His mother, Peggy McMartin Buckey, 59, who is charged with 21 counts, said softly, “Not guilty.”
The two are accused of sexually abusing 14 children left in their care at the Manhattan Beach Pre-School founded by Raymond Buckey’s grandmother.
A pretrial hearing was set for Feb. 20 before Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Roger Boren. Defense attorneys Daniel Davis and Dean Gits, who represented the pair during their 18-month preliminary hearing, were appointed by Munoz to represent the Buckeys, who said they are indigent.
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