Updated Court Case from 2017
Authorities are providing an update on a case involving a registered sex offender accused of failing to comply with required reporting guidelines.
Court documents show that on August 14, 2017, Colton Bunnell was convicted of indecent contact with a child.
According to the criminal report, Bunnell was subsequently classified as a Tier 2 sex offender and was ordered to comply with all requirements of the sex offender registry.
One of those requirements for Tier 2 offenders is to appear in person twice a year to verify and update registry information.
Court records indicate that Bunnell’s required appearances were scheduled for February and August. However, he failed to appear in August 2025 as required, resulting in a violation of registry rules.
Authorities with the Ottumwa Police Department reported that a review of Bunnell’s status also showed active arrest warrants for escape/absence from custody from the Ottumwa Residential Facility. At the time, his whereabouts were unknown to law enforcement.
An arrest warrant has since been served, and Bunnell is currently being held in the Wapello County Jail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 17,2026.
Bunnell is charged with sex offender registry violation (second or subsequent offense), a Class D felony.
Editors Note: All information was obtained from court documents related to the ongoing investigation.
