A North Carolina bus driver and two teenagers are facing legal trouble in connection with a bizarre blackmail incident. The bus driver reportedly claimed she had been the victim of extortion from two students. The woman asserted the two teenagers were contacting her through Facebook in an attempt to get $60 from her. Once an investigation began, the story became more twisted, resulting in criminal charges against everyone involved.

The bus driver is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with both of the teens during an incident that occurred inside the driver's car last year. She reportedly arranged to meet them and drove to a secluded place where she purportedly engaged in inappropriate sexual activity. She then took them home, and the extortion attempts allegedly occurred later.

In addition to the pending criminal charges against the bus driver, the two teenagers have been charged with blackmail. A police sergeant indicated that postings on Facebook are not truly private. He emphasized that teens, in particular, should understand that what they post on Facebook may later surface as evidence in a police investigation.

Each of the individuals facing criminal charges will now have an opportunity to defend themselves in court. As their cases begin to make their way through the North Carolina criminal justice system, each is deemed innocent. That presumption is resolute and can only be changed if a prosecutor is able to prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. A guilty verdict is not possible on any particular criminal charge unless that burden of proof is sustained to the court's satisfaction.

Source: wbtv.com, "Police: Bus driver blackmailed by students via Facebook over sex," Brigida Mack, Jan. 18, 2013