July 30, 1999 State police to review audit If police find nothing criminal, Bunting is accountable only to the VMI Board of Visitors. By MATT CHITTUM THE ROANOKE TIMES State police are reviewing the state auditor's report from an investigation of VMI Superintendent Josiah Bunting's spending practices, the auditor said. State police will decide whether the report shows evidence of a crime that can be prosecuted, said Walter J. Kucharski, the state auditor of public accounts. If evidence were found, the case would be turned over to a prosecutor - either the state attorney general, the Lexington commonwealth's attorney or a special prosecutor. But until state police make a decision, Kucharski said, the report won't be released to the public. If the police find nothing criminal, Kucharski said, Bunting is accountable only to the VMI Board of Visitors. The auditors are examining purchases from a $100,000 discretionary account assigned to Bunting. The superintendent overspent that account by $120,000 during the first three of his four years in office. Bunting has used that account for many things, such as office supplies, flowers for decoration for events and for funerals of friends and alumni, and groceries and alcohol for entertaining guests of the college. VMI spokesman Mike Strickler said VMI has cooperated fully with the auditors and turned over meticulous records of Bunting's purchases.