Peggy Buckey Seeks $1 Million : Files Suit and Charges Jail Abuses

Peggy McMartin Buckey, acquitted of molestion charges in the McMartin Pre-School case, filed a $1-million federal civil rights lawsuit today against Los Angeles County, the city of Manhattan Beach and others.

“We are all good Christian people. I say that if it can happen to us, it can happen to you,” Buckey said at a packed news conference called to announce the suit.

“If it weren’t for God, I’d never have been able to survive jail, where I was mentally and physically abused,” she said.

Buckey appeared at the news conference with her mother, Virginia McMartin, and her daughter, Peggy Ann Buckey, both of whom were charged in the original child molestation case but had their charges dismissed.

Buckey said she at first hesitated to become involved in further litigation. The suit alleges unlawful prosecution.

“I said to (my lawyer), ‘Is it worth going to court about? I’m tired of going to court. I’m tired of enduring what I’ve had to endure.’ ”

But she said she feels that those responsible for ruining her life should have to account for it.

Buckey also disclosed that after the verdicts were announced Thursday, a parent of a former McMartin Pre-School child approached Buckey’s husband, Charles, and threatened to kill him. She did not elaborate.

She also said children who once attended the school trailed her to her car and screamed epithets at her.

Buckey said she hopes to win enough damages to buy a home to replace the one she lost as a result of paying for her case.

“I feel I have a right to have a home again,” Buckey said. “My husband and I worked hard for what we had. And to take everything away from someone who’s done nothing--it’s a nightmare.”

Peggy Ann Buckey, who has returned to teaching special education classes, said her brother, Ray, who went into hiding after his acquittal on most charges, is delighted with the verdict.

“He’s extremely happy. He’s on cloud nine because he was scared,” she said. “There was a great fear that the jury, not knowing the whole story, could convict. Thank God they were intelligent enough not to.”

“The truth is always the victor, and that has been proven,” said the 82-year-old McMartin, founder of the now-closed Manhattan Beach school.

The suit filed today names as defendants Los Angeles County, the city of Manhattan Beach, former Dist. Atty. Robert Philibosian, Children’s Institute International and therapist Kee MacFarlane, as well as Capital Cities-ABC Inc. and its former reporter Wayne Satz.

It contended that all defendants joined in a conspiracy to have the McMartin defendants indicted. The suit sought general damages of $1 million and unspecified special damages.

Buckey and her son, Ray, won acquittal of 52 felony charges Thursday because, jurors say, bizarre allegations of molestation at the McMartin Pre-School appeared to be the result of coaching by parents and therapists.

A mistrial was declared on 13 other counts, all involving Ray Buckey. The district attorney’s office will have to decide whether to try those counts again.