One day before Rick James retired in March 2025, James emailed three Salina police officers about Bunce and encouraged them to produce an affidavit to enable the county attorney to pursue perjury charges. Bunce was charged with perjury, which carries a minimum five-month prison sentence and a fine up to $100,000, but evidence later showed his testimony was accurate and the case was dismissed. Bunce’s federal lawsuit says the charge and its court process caused emotional distress, anxiety, fear of losing his position, and reputational harm, and it alleges the communications show hostility toward him.
In the lawsuit, Bunce also contends that police could have supported his testimony with NARTEC test capability for bath salts, and that later hearing testimony conflicted with earlier materials. Saline County Attorney John Reynolds dropped the case before trial after Bunce offered to complete 110 hours of professional training at his own expense; Reynolds is not named in the lawsuit due to prosecutorial immunity.
Bunce, who previously served as sheriff of Kearny County and now works as an investigator for the Salina regional public defender’s office, says he returned to the role while his wife continues treatment for Merkel cell carcinoma. An attorney for the officers declined to respond to questions, and court records show the officers deny malicious prosecution and other claims including fabrication of evidence and retaliation.