“NOTHING SHORT OF EVIL”: DEFUNIAK SPRINGS MAN, SCHOOL BUS DRIVER, DOD CONTRACTOR, ARRESTED FOR MOLESTATION OF A VICTIM BETWEEN 16- AND 17-YEARS OLD
WALTON COUNTY, FLA— A DeFuniak Springs man has been arrested following an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving a victim between 16 and 17 years old.
On October 14th, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a professor at a local college who reported that one of their students had disclosed being sexually abused. The professor immediately reported the information to Campus Police, who notified our agency.
Investigators met with the victim, who provided a detailed statement with recordings supporting her account. The evidence depicted inappropriate sexual contact and explicit comments made by the suspect toward the victim.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Charles Marcello Buono, of DeFuniak Springs, was located at home and agreed to speak with investigators. Buono initially denied the allegations. When presented with one of the videos, he admitted to being the individual depicted and confirmed the nature of the acts described by investigators.
Buono was arrested without incident and transported to Walton County Jail on Tuesday night. He is charged with lewd and lascivious molestation by an offender 24 years of age or older on a victim 16 or 17 years of age. He was given a $100,000 bond and is still incarcerated at the time of this release.
“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.”
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office commends the courage of the victim for talking with her professor and the college staff for immediately reporting the disclosure.
Buono, who worked as a bus driver, was immediately suspended by the Walton County School District following his arrest and will be recommended for termination at the next board meeting. Buono was also employed by the Defense Health Agency as a Department of Defense contractor.
Our agency’s foremost concern is the well-being and privacy of the victim in this case. To protect the victim’s identity, there is certain information being withheld for that reason.
Although these charges did not result from criminal actions during his time as a bus driver or involve a student on his bus route, our agency cannot rule out the possibility that Buono may have other victims. We encourage anyone who believes they are a victim to please contact our agency.
This investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming.