“Lack of judgment, lack of good judgment,” is how Strafford School District Superintendent John Collins describes it.

The three students are accused of passing counterfeit bills. According to the police report, the teens used two bogus $20 bills at a fast food restaurant; they went back the next day to try it again and were caught.

The fake $20 bills were heavier than the real thing. The fronts and backs were glued together. In all, police confiscated $200 in counterfeit money.

"How they were successful at passing one or two at McDonald's, I don't know, because it was patently obvious to some people there eventually that it was counterfeit money,” said Prosecuting Attorney Darrell Moore.

Moore believes it was simply a foolish prank.

"So you have a choice here whether it’s a forgery or misdemeanor stealing,” he said.

Should the prosecutor pursue a forgery charge, it would be a class C felony, punishable by up to a seven-year prison sentence or a fine up to $5,000. The high schoolers haven't been in trouble with the law before this, so Moore plans on handling the case through a more lenient method.

"They are going to be given an opportunity to not be charged, to agree to do some community service, make restitution to McDonald's and write a letter of apology,” he said.

The teens are still in school but they have been banned from extracurricular activities while the case makes its way through the legal system. Collins says he's never seen a case like this.

"I'm surprised,” said Collins.

The prosecutor believes the teens have learned their lesson and won't do it again.