Family Forum / Parenting / Adoption / September 2007

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0709/18/cnr.02.html

Federal prosecutor caught in an Internet sting. Police say John
Atchison wanted sex with a 5-year-old Michigan girl. Michael
Rosenfield of affiliate WXYZ has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL ROSENFIELD, WXYZ REPORTER (voice-over): Fifty-three- year-old
John David Roy Atchison, a top law enforcement official in Florida,
under arrest in Detroit, accused of trying to have sex with whom he
thought was a 5-year-old girl. Authorities say Atchison conversed over
e-mail with an undercover detective whose online profile says she is a
mother with young children who men could have sex with.

Atchison who is an assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District
of Florida allegedly began daily online chats with her telling her, he
is, quote, "very much a family man". According to authorities he also
wrote, quote,

"I'm always gentle and loving, not to worry, I've done it plenty".

After about two weeks of chats, a meeting was established and
Atchison allegedly wrote the undercover detective to tell her
daughter, quote, "You found her a sweet boyfriend who will bring her
presents".

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Atchison is a married man with children.

http://www.newsroomamerica.com/usa/story.php?id=392541
U.S. Attorney Arrested In Sex Attempt With 5-Year-Old
2007-09-19 08:01am

An assistant U.S. attorney from Florida was arrested in Michigan and
charged with interstate travel with intent to have sex with a five-
year-old girl.

J. D. Roy Atchison was arrested at Detroit's international airport and
arraigned on three separate counts.

The complaint says Mr. Atchison is charged with attempted enticement
of a minor using the Internet, a charge carrying a potential 30-year
sentence; aggravated sexual abuse, a charge also carrying a potential
30-year sentence; and traveling across state lines to have sex with
someone under 12, a charge that was added today and carries a maximum
of life in prison upon conviction.

Upon arrest he was found to have a Dora the Explorer doll and Vaseline
lubrication jelly in his possession.

Mr. Atchison has worked in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pensacola
since the late 1980s, mostly handling asset forfeitures in criminal
cases and civil cases in which the United States was a party.

Since Aug. 29, he had been having almost daily online chats with an
undercover officer posing as a mother interested in offering her
fictitious 5-year-old daughter for sex, law officers said.

(c) 2007 Newsroom.

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-47/1190215243238380
.xml&storylist=newsmichigan
New count for U.S. prosecutor accused of seeking sex with girl, 5
9/19/2007, 11:06 a.m. EDT
By DAVID N. GOODMAN
The Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) - A U.S. prosecutor and youth sports leader from Florida
who authorities say flew to Michigan for an expected sexual encounter
with a 5-year-old girl has been indicted on an additional charge and
ordered held without bond.

U.S. Magistrate Virginia M. Morgan also lifted a suicide watch for
John D.R. Atchison.

Atchison, 53, of Gulf Breeze, Fla., is an assistant U.S. attorney in
northern Florida, based in Pensacola. He is married with three
children and has been active in youth sports in his hometown.

He was arrested Sunday at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after arriving
for a meeting with what he thought was the mother of a 5-year-old girl
with whom he arranged to have sex, authorities said. In fact, the
woman was a Macomb County sheriff's detective and part of an Internet
sex sting operation.

He originally faced charges of use of the Internet to seek illicit
sex, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a
maximum of 30 years; and interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual
contact, which carries up to 30 years.

On Tuesday, a federal grand jury added a charge of crossing state
lines with intent to have sex with someone under 12, which carries a
minimum 30-year prison sentence and a maximum of life.

Defense lawyer James Thomas declined comment after the hearing.

Atchison's boss, U.S. Attorney Gregory R. Miller, said in a statement
Tuesday that his staff was "deeply saddened by the arrest." He said
his office was cooperating with the FBI, U.S. prosecutors and Michigan
investigators and believed that "in the end, justice will be served."

The status of Atchison's employment was unclear.

"We are, of course, concerned about the welfare of Mr. Atchison's
family, he added. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to them."
Federal agents obtained a search warrant Monday for Atchison's Florida
home. There was no word on what they sought or found.

Atchison is president of the Gulf Breeze Sports Association, which
runs youth baseball, softball, cheer leading, soccer, football and
basketball programs. The group said that it was placing him on leave
until the charges were resolved.

"Roy Atchison has been a valued member of the Gulf Breeze community
and the Gulf Breeze Sports Association for the past decade," the
group's vice president, Mike Mabry, said in a written statement
Wednesday.

According to an FBI affidavit, Atchison sent an instant message Aug.
29 to Macomb County sheriff's Detective Linda Findlay, who is part of
the 6-year-old Macomb Area Computer Enforcement Team.

"Findlay created an online undercover persona ... of a mother with
minor children who is interested in allowing men to have sex with her
children," FBI Agent Matthew A. Bowman wrote.

Atchison messaged her that he was "very much a family man," Bowman
said.

The prosecutor and undercover detective held almost daily online chats
after that, and he told her that he wanted to have oral, vaginal and
anal sex with the young girl, the FBI agent said.

On Sunday, Atchison flew from Pensacola to Houston and then to Detroit
Metro, where he was to meet the mother, the affidavit said.

Instead, federal and county agents arrested him.

He was carrying presents for the girl, including a doll and hoop
earrings, and also had sexual materials, including petroleum jelly,
Sheriff Mark Hackel said.

The moment of arrest gave authorities something they lacked until that
moment - certainty that they had the right man, Hackel told AP
Television News.

"Actually going to meet the person provides the opportunity for law
enforcement to say, `This is the person that was behind the computer
that was typing on the computer, indicating that they wanted to have
sex with a child,'" the sheriff said.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5icZT2eJIwU5VjIl_EPmFCLPSSu4A
Prosecutor's Arrest Worries Florida Town
By MELISSA NELSON - 1 hour ago

GULF BREEZE, Fla. (AP) - John D.R. Atchison - federal prosecutor,
married father of three - was a respected figure who coached girls'
softball and basketball in a park a few blocks from his home in this
well-to-do beach community.

But all that came crumbling down when he was arrested last weekend in
Detroit in an Internet sex sting on charges he traveled to Michigan to
molest a 5-year-old girl. Officials say he later tried to hang himself
in jail.

Atchison, 53, had been communicating with an undercover sheriff's
detective from Macomb County, Mich., who was posing online as the
fictitious girl's mother and arranged for him to have sex with the
child, police said.

He was arrested carrying presents for her, including a doll and
earrings, and sexual materials, officials said.

In the community that once applauded Atchison for his dedication to
youth sports, people now worry that the assistant U.S. attorney might
have held other secrets. But authorities have so far found no cases of
child molestation in Florida involving Atchison.

"There were no red flags. He was normal. He went to work at the
courthouse Monday through Friday. It's not like he carried dolls to
the ballpark," said police Lt. Rick Hawthorne, who knew Atchison for
more than 10 years and coached softball.

Mayor Lane Gilchrist said: "My first thought was just how stupid it
was, particularly someone of his stature. You couldn't think up
something like that."

Atchison's lawyer, James C. Thomas, did not return a phone call
Friday.

As a federal prosecutor, Atchison mostly worked on tax and financial
crime cases. According to court records, it appears he never
prosecuted child sex abuse cases.

He was charged with three felonies in Michigan, including crossing
state lines with the intent to have sex with someone under 12. He
could get up to life in prison.

The mayor has tried to reassure parents and other residents alarmed by
Atchison's arrest. "There was nothing involving local children and
there should be no implication that there is," he said.

But City Manager Edwin "Buz" Eddy, who spent years attending youth
sporting events with Atchison and his family, said he worries the
community has not seen the end of the case.

"Who's to say that someone won't come forward with an accusation
tomorrow?" he said.

Eddy expressed surprise and a sense of betrayal after the arrest.

"If he called me two weeks ago and wanted my daughter to go on a
fishing trip I would have said sure," the city manager said.

Ron Johnson, a Pensacola criminal defense attorney, worked with
Atchison and knew him socially because their children played sports
together. The only thing that made Atchison different from some others
was his slightly standoffish "intellectual manner," Johnson said.

"He was obviously a very bright guy and maybe a little eccentric in
that sense," he said.

Atchison's boss, U.S. Attorney Gregory R. Miller, said in a statement
earlier this week that his office was cooperating with the
investigation. He said staff members were "deeply saddened by the
arrest."

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070920/NEWS04/70920038/1065/SP
ORTS17
Prosecutor arrested in child-sex sting attempts suicide, police say
September 20, 2007

By CHRISTY ARBOSCELLO

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

UPDATED AT 12:59 P.M.

A Florida federal prosecutor accused of arranging to have sex with a
young girl in Michigan tried to hang himself with a sheet early this
morning in Sanilac County Jail, Sheriff Virgil Strickler said.

One of John David Roy Atchison's three cellmates saw the suicide
attempt around 4 a.m.

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"He alerted the guard and he (the guard) held him up to keep him from
hanging himself," Strickler said.

A corporal immediately contacted U.S. Marshals who transported him
from the 119-bed jail, where he had been since Wednesday. It's unclear
where he was taken from there.

Atchison, 53 of Gulf Breeze, Fla., was not harmed.

At his own request, the assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern
District of Florida was removed from suicide watch Tuesday.

He has been charged with traveling across state lines to have sex with
someone under 12, enticement of a minor using the Internet and
knowingly traveling interstate to engage in illicit sex. He faces life
in prison upon conviction.

According to court records, he described himself as "very much a
family man," in online chats with an undercover officer posing as a
mother interested in letting him have sex with her 5-year-old
daughter.

In the conversations from Aug. 29 to Sept. 16, he expressed a desire
to engage in oral, vaginal and anal sex with her fictitious daughter.
Officers from the Macomb Area Enforcement Team arrested him Sunday at
Detroit Metro Airport.

In addition to his lengthy background practicing civil and some
criminal cases with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Atchison, a husband
and father of three, served as president of the Gulf Breeze Sports
Association. He coached girls' basketball in the community.

A MySpace.com page that a court document identified as belonging to
Atchison, stated he enjoyed spoiling young girls.

He allegedly described himself on the page as "Handsome, educated,
professional, experienced Daddy. I love younger girls. Like everything
about you...how you think, talk, act. I'm very understanding and
supportive..,never ever judgmental."

The profile goes on to say that he would like to "pamper, spoil,
change and take care of" girls.

Atchison's general interests are listed as "surfing, diving,
boating...everything to do with the water...music and cute girls."

His defense lawyer, James Thomas, could not immediately be reached for
comment today.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

cotts1

I'm a pedophile because of my certainty that if some 45 year old
pedder wants to nab a little girl and rape her, he'll figure out a
way.

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:10 am

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

tspiegel

I'M WITH DRUMMY.

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:14 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

beeswax2231

David Corcyca, the Oakland County, Mich., prosecutor - you know, the
guy who let the Lasalle Bank robber go, well he just came on t.v. and
said if he were get the case the man in question would be let go and
David himself would ask all Michigan mothers to offer this man help in
the form of their 5 year olds! David you are a big failure to the
people in Michgan for saying that.

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:34 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

mrspeedreader

I'm curious. Reports indicate that this man's MySpace profile had
links to ADULT women who enjoyed pretending to be babies and little
children, even to the point of wearing diapers. What gives with this?

I think I would like to withhold judgment until I read the computer
chat transcript for myself. Funny that it hasn't been released yet.

Is it possible that this man believed that he was talking to an adult
woman who (he believed) was pretending to be the mother of a five year
old child, when in fact the game was that either this woman or another
adult woman would wind up playing the role of such a child --- all as
part of this sex fetish game?

One would think that the undercover officer would take pains to ensure
that all such ambiguity was removed. I'd like to see for myself,
however.

Where is this chat transcript? Why hasn't it been released?

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:51 pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

drummy

Why didn't the guards help the ahole commit suicide? Let the guy kill
himself, he's about as useful to society as Jenny Granholm is who
should commit suicide herself and relieve this state.

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:34 pm

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h4Cwc7R9apgsfa0PZG9nQVyPT0sQ

New Sex Sting Charge for U.S. Prosecutor
By DAVID N. GOODMAN - 2 days ago

DETROIT (AP) - A federal prosecutor who authorities say came to
Michigan expecting to have a sexual encounter with a 5-year-old girl
has been indicted on an additional charge and ordered held without
bail.

John D.R. Atchison, 53, of Gulf Breeze, Fla., an assistant U.S.
attorney based in Pensacola, Fla., was arrested Sunday at Detroit
Metropolitan Airport when he arrived for a meeting with a woman he
thought was going to let him have sex with her young daughter,
authorities said. The woman actually was a Macomb County sheriff's
detective and part of an Internet sex sting operation.

He initially faced charges of use of the Internet to seek illicit sex,
which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum
of 30 years, and interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual
contact, which carries up to 30 years.

On Tuesday, a federal grand jury added a charge of crossing state
lines with intent to have sex with someone under 12, which carries a
minimum 30-year prison sentence and a maximum of life.

Defense lawyer James Thomas declined to comment after a hearing
Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Virginia M. Morgan, who denied bail.

Atchison's boss, U.S. Attorney Gregory R. Miller, said in a statement
Tuesday that his staff was cooperating with the FBI, federal
prosecutors and Michigan investigators. The status of Atchison's
employment was unclear.

Atchison is president of the Gulf Breeze Sports Association, which
runs youth baseball, softball, cheer leading, soccer, football and
basketball programs. The group said Tuesday it was placing him on
leave until the charges were resolved.

According to an FBI affidavit, Atchison exchanged instant messages
with Macomb County sheriff's Detective Linda Findlay, who is part of
the 6-year-old Macomb Area Computer Enforcement Team.

"Findlay created an online undercover persona ... of a mother with
minor children who is interested in allowing men to have sex with her
children," FBI Agent Matthew A. Bowman wrote.

When he arrived Sunday, he was carrying presents for the girl,
including a doll and earrings, and also had sexual materials, Sheriff
Mark Hackel said.

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en_US&ncl=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5icZT
2eJIwU5VjIl_EPmFCLPSSu4A

Prosecutor's Arrest Worries Florida Town
The Associated Press - 1 hour ago
GULF BREEZE, Fla. (AP) - John DR Atchison - federal prosecutor,
married father of three - was a respected figure who coached girls'
softball and basketball ...

Sex-sting suspect attempts suicide Metro Detroit
Detroit Free Press, United States - 11 hours ago
BY CHRISTY ARBOSCELLO A Florida federal prosecutor accused of
arranging sex with what he thought was a child in metro Detroit tried
hanging himself with a ...

Prosecutor Tries to Kill Himself After Arrest in Pedophile Case
New York Times, United States - 14 hours ago
By NICK BUNKLEY DETROIT, Sept. 20 - A federal prosecutor from Florida
who is accused of traveling to Michigan with the intention of having
sex with a ...

Prosecutor arrested in child-sex sting attempts suicide, police say
Detroit Free Press, United States - Sep 20, 2007
By CHRISTY ARBOSCELLO A Florida federal prosecutor accused of
arranging to have sex with a young girl in Michigan tried to hang
himself with a sheet early ...

New Sex Sting Charge for US Prosecutor
The Associated Press - Sep 19, 2007
DETROIT (AP) - A federal prosecutor who authorities say came to
Michigan expecting to have a sexual encounter with a 5-year-old girl
has been indicted on an ...

Sex case sends shock waves Macomb County
Detroit Free Press, United States - Sep 19, 2007
BY CHRISTY ARBOSCELLO Indicted federal prosecutor John David Roy
Atchison appeared to be an upstanding citizen in the quiet peninsula
city of Gulf Breeze, ...

US attorney taken off suicide watch
Detroit Free Press, United States - Sep 18, 2007
By CHRISTY ARBORSCELLO At his own request, a federal prosecutor from
Florida, John David Roy Atchison, will be taken off suicide watch. ...

Prosecutor Facing Sex Charges Attempts Suicide
North Country Gazette, NY - 15 hours ago
DETROIT, MICH-An assistant US Attorney from Florida, under arrest for
traveling to Detroit to have sex with a five-year-old girl,
unsuccessfully tried to ...

Florida Federal Prosecutor Arrested For Trying To Have Sex With ...
AHN - Sep 20, 2007
Detroit, MI (AHN) - A federal prosecutor from Florida jailed for
trying to arrange to have sex with a 5-year-old girl survived a
suicide attempt on Thursday ...

Prosecutor Caught In Sting Tries To Hang Himself
CBS 4, FL - Sep 20, 2007
(CBS4) DETROIT A Florida prosecutor who allegedly flew to Michigan to
have a sexual encounter with a 5-year-old girl has reportedly tried to
hang himself in ...

Federal prosecutor from Gulf Breeze charged in sex sting
EmeraldCoast.com, FL - Sep 20, 2007
A detention hearing was scheduled for today in the case of a federal
prosecutor from Pensacola charged in an online child sex sting in
Detroit. ...

Jailed prosecutor is moved up north
DetNews.com, MI - Sep 19, 2007
The Sanilac County Jail has taken steps to ensure the safety of a
Florida federal prosecutor charged with flying to Detroit from
Pensacola to have sex with ...

GB man nabbed in Michigan
Gulf Breeze News,  USA - Sep 19, 2007
Those who know Roy Atchison say the reports out of Michigan must be
describing a different person than the community leader and family man
they know. ...

FBI seizes computer of proseuctor facing child sex charges (With ...
The Northwest Florida Daily News, FL - Sep 19, 2007
GULF BREEZE - The FBI has seized the home computer of the federal
prosecutor arrested last weekend in a Detroit child sex sting and are
examining its ...

Federal Prosecutor Accused of Trying to Have Sex with Five-Year-Old
First Coast News, FL - Sep 19, 2007
BY CHRISTY ARBOSCELLO DETROIT, MI -- A federal prosecutor flew to
metro Detroit with a Dora the Explorer doll, hoop earrings and
petroleum jelly for a ...

US Attorney Arrested In Sex Attempt With 5-Year-Old
Newsroom America, New Zealand - Sep 19, 2007
An assistant US attorney from Florida was arrested in Michigan and
charged with interstate travel with intent to have sex with a five-
year-old girl. ...

Prosecutor arrested in sex case
Fox 21, CO - Sep 19, 2007
(AP) -- DETROIT - An assistant US attorney from Florida has been
arrested in an Internet sting operation. Authorities say 53-year-old
John DR Atchison was ...

US attorney in jail until trial
DetNews.com, MI - Sep 18, 2007
Suicide watch is lifted for Florida prosecutor who is accused of
planning to have sex with a 5-year-old girl. DETROIT -- A federal
prosecutor from Florida ...

Former Prosecutor accusing of Seeking Sex with a Girl Faces New ...
First Coast News, FL - Sep 18, 2007
DETROIT (AP) -- A grand jury has issued new charges against a US
prosecutor from Florida accused of soliciting sex with a 5-year-old
girl on the Internet. ...

New count for US prosecutor accused of seeking sex with girl, 5
WLNS, MI - Sep 18, 2007
AP - September 18, 2007 4:44 PM ET DETROIT (AP) - A federal grand jury
in Detroit issued new charges today against a US prosecutor from
Florida accused of ...

Fla. US prosecutor accused of seeking sex with young girl
KRGV, TX - Sep 18, 2007
DETROIT (AP) - An assistant US attorney from Florida has been arrested
for allegedly flying to Michigan to have sex with a 5-year-old
girl. ...

GBSA Statement On Assistant US Attorney
WKRG-TV, AL - Sep 18, 2007
By WKRG Staff A Gulf Breeze youth sports organization has placed a
Assistant US Attorney on leave pending the outcome of charges in
Michigan. ...

Prosecutor Caught in Sex Sting Attempted Suicide
ABC News - Sep 20, 2007
In this photo released by the Macomb County Sheriffs Department, John
David R. Atchison, 53, of Gulf Breeze, Fla., is shown in Mount
Clemens, Mich, Sunday, ...

Federal prosecutor accused in child sex sting attempts suicide
MLive.com, MI - Sep 20, 2007
By DAVID N. GOODMAN AP DETROIT (AP) - A federal prosecutor from
Florida who authorities say flew to Michigan for an expected sexual
encounter with a ...

New count for US prosecutor accused of seeking sex with girl, 5
MLive.com, MI - Sep 18, 2007
By DAVID N. GOODMAN AP DETROIT (AP) - A US prosecutor and youth sports
leader from Florida who authorities say flew to Michigan for an
expected sexual ...

Prosecutor in kid sex sting tries suicide
Monsters and Critics.com, UK - 2 hours ago
DETROIT, MI, United States (UPI) -- A federal prosecutor accused of
traveling from Florida to Michigan to have sex with a 5-year-old girl
tried to hang ...

Sheriff: prosecutor arrested in child Internet sex sting attempts ...
KESQ, CA - Sep 20, 2007
AP - September 20, 2007 1:33 PM ET DETROIT (AP) - Authorities say a
federal prosecutor from Florida, who's accused of flying to Michigan
for a sexual ...

Northwest Florida prosecutor caught in child sex sting attempts ...
WJHG-TV, FL - Sep 20, 2007
A Northwest Florida prosecutor who authorities say flew to Michigan
for an expected sexual encounter with a 5-year-old girl has tried to
hang himself in his ...

Prosecutor in sex sting arrest attempts suicide
DetNews.com, MI - Sep 20, 2007
John David "Roy" Atchison, the Florida federal prosecutor indicted for
allegedly flying from Pensacola, Fla., to Detroit to have sex with a 5-
year-old girl, ...