WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A student’s quiet confession to a trusted professor has unraveled a disturbing case of sexual abuse, leading to the arrest of a Florida bus driver.

On October 14, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCS) said deputies were alerted by campus police after a professor at a local college reported that one of their students had revealed being sexually abused. The student, between 16 and 17 years old, provided investigators with a detailed account and recordings that supported her claims.

The suspect, 45-year-old Charles Marcello Buono, was identified and located at his residence. The sheriff’s office said Buono initially denied the allegations, but later admitted to being the man in one of the videos presented by investigators and confirmed the nature of the acts described.

Buono was arrested without incident and booked into Walton County Jail on Tuesday night. He faceslewd and lascivious molestation by an offender 24 years of age or older on a victim 16 or 17 years of age. His bond was set at $100,000, and he remains incarcerated.

“What happened here is nothing short of evil,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “Crimes like this shake our sense of humanity, and we will not rest until justice is served.”

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Buono, who worked as a bus driver for Walton County School District, was immediately suspended following his arrest. The district has stated he will be recommended for termination at the next board meeting. He was also employed as a Department of Defense contractor through the Defense Health Agency.

Authorities emphasized that the charges do not stem from Buono’s role as a bus driver or involve students on his route. However, investigators are not ruling out the possibility of additional victims and are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office praised the victim’s bravery and the swift action taken by college staff. To protect the victim’s identity, certain details are being withheld.

The investigation remains active, and officials say more charges may be forthcoming.

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