Republican Federal Prosecutor Accused In Sex Sting Commits Suicide
Harry Hope
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/14278705/detail.html
Federal Prosecutor Accused In Sex Sting Commits Suicide
MILAN, Mich. --
John D.R. Atchison, the federal prosecutor who was arrested in an
Internet sex sting after he allegedly traveled to Michigan from
Florida to have sex with a 5-year-old girl, hanged himself in a
Michigan federal prison Friday morning.
Atchison, 53, of Pensacola, Fla., was put on suicide watch after he
used a bed sheet in an attempted suicide in September.
Detroit police confirmed Atchison's suicide death at 10:14 a.m.
Friday. They have not released any details.
Atchison was a married father of three and 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.
Atchison 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.
"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.
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.
The Pensacola 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.
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.
Atchison's attorney, James C. Thomas, released a statement Friday:
“We are deeply saddened to learn the death of John Roy Atchison. Our
heartfelt regrets go out to his wife and children, his parents and his
brothers and sisters. This is a man who has done a lot of good in his
life. Unfortunately, he is going to be judged by his most recent
charges and what we have read in the media, and not by the goodness,
hard work or by the love of his family. I expect to be filing a
Suggestion of Death and will request the federal judge to dismiss the
case once I receive the necessary documents.”
Atchison was charged with three felonies, the most serious of which is
crossing state lines with intent to have sex with someone under 12.
Conviction carries a minimum 30-year prison sentence and a maximum of
life.
____________________________________________________
His was considered one of the most conservative United States
attorney’s offices in the country, known for refusing plea agreements
and seeking the stiffest sentences.
John David Roy Atchison was an assistant U.S. Attorney in Florida, and
according to the posters at DailyKos is a registered Republican:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/17/161247/155
The only registered John Dave R Atchison (John David Roy Atchison)
registered in Florida is a Republican from Gulf Breeze (Pensacola
suburb) born in 1957, which fits the other information.....
Harry
BizarroBush
"Harry Hope" <riv...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:lbadg3tgd01j570h7...@4ax.com...
Laura Bush killed him.
lora...@cs.com
wrote:
More likely it was demons.. ;)
They are infesting most everyone in DC, for instance, over the last
few years.
Sometimes though, it is some brain disease that causes people to go
wacky.
Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names
wrote:
>
> - Show quoted text -
Nope. Bill Clinton did it.
Anonymoose
conservative United States attorney's offices in the country, known for
refusing plea agreements and seeking the stiffest sentences.
> >
Another merciless son of a bitch who gave nobody a break and deserved no
kindness from anyone.
Kommienezuspadt
<lora...@cs.com> wrote in message
news:1191626682.1...@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
That's Senator Domenici's defense he's already trotting out.
Hawkeye Pearce
"Kommienezuspadt" <NoS...@NoThanks.net> wrote in message
news:4706fce0$0$9131$882e...@news.ThunderNews.com...
Jerry Kraus
He'll be sorely missed. He was a model Republican, a model
prosecutor, a model lawyer, and would, undoubtedly, have made a model
politician or judge. Or both. Truly, an example to the American
people as a whole. This is the kind of man the United States truly
stands for. We should all be proud of him.