Jailed federal prosecutor hangs himself

Northwest Florida Daily News ^ | 10/05/2007 | Staff Reporter

[diverteach]

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that federal prosecutor J.D. Roy Atchison of Gulf Breeze, who was charged last month after allegedly flying to Detroit to have sex with a 5-year-old child, committed suicide today.

The newspaper cited authorities who said Atchison hanged himself this morning at the federal prison in Milan, Mich., where he was taken after previously trying to commit suicide at Sanilac County Jail.

They said the 53-year-old Atchison, who worked in the U.S. attorney’s office in Pensacola, had been housed in solitary confinement and was under close supervision, the newspaper reported.

Lawyer James Thomas of Detroit said he planned to ask a federal judge to dismiss the charges against Atchison, the Free Press reported.

Greg Miller, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Florida, issued the following statement in response to Atchison's suicide: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Roy’s family and friends. We hope that with the passage of time, they can find some measure of healing."

[shankbear]

Crap on a rope. That cleaned up this mess.

[Leatherneck_MT]

Had to be a Clintoon appointee. Seems to be their MO

[Dr.Zoidberg]

It’s a good thing.

[The KG9 Kid]

"Now we'll never know if he was innocent."

/liberal

[Brad’s Gramma]

Slithering away from the computer, I go.......................

[ketsu]

Justice served.

I disagree, he should have at least killed himself after the trial(assuming he had other victims). Trials are as much for the victims as determining the guilt of the perp. By offing himself he prevented his victims from having any real closure.

Too late for that now though. Hope he feels extra toasty wherever he is.

[buckleyfan]

But, it makes me wonder if there are victims out there that this slime ball slime bucket did abuse. I pray not.

Bad news is, he has almost certainly abused girls before. Not only is that the pattern with child molesters and abusers - he actually admitted as much in his communication with the undercover agent. I can't remember his exact words but they were chilling.

I'm sure he committed suicide knowing, as a prosecutor, what happens to child molesters when they end up in the general prison population. He got off easy.

[stevio]

I see no mention of party affiliation, so I’m guessing he’s at least a dem.

[infidel29]

Atchison arrived at the airport Sunday with a Dora the Explorer doll, hoop earrings and petroleum jelly.

I would have liked to see him arrive at prison with the same grocery bag, but at least there are no court costs.

[SeaHawkFan]

The positive for his family is that his wife gets to keep his pension if they participated in a survivor benefit type program. Had he been convicted, she would have lost that benefit.

[PAR35]

Not a presidential appointee.

[Melinda]

This may have been a sting operation, but chances are this wasn’t his first attempt. It’s probable that he had already gotten what he was looking for earlier from another innocent.

[TChris]

I see no mention of party affiliation, so I’m guessing he’s at least a dem.

I'm not so certain. Most dems who are caught being monstrous perverts just shrug and say, "Yeah, so? At least I'm honest about it. You should be more tolerant."

The fact that this guy had enough of a conscience to feel guilty makes me wonder if he was a dem.

[buckleyfan]

"Atchison reassured the sheriff's deputy who was posing as the child's mother that he would not hurt the 5-year-old because he goes 'slow and easy,' and 'I've done it plenty,'" The Detroit News reports.

[SMARTY]

No ins. benefits pay out with suicide, right?

[Sloth]

Under the user name fldaddy04 and captioned “Experienced, understanding Daddy,” Atchison allegedly described himself in his profile as: “Handsome, educated, professional, experienced Daddy...

Ugh. I'm guessing he has daughters, and that they are former victims.

[stevio]

That thought crossed my mind too. I did a quick Google search and found no party affiliation.

[pgkdan]

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that federal prosecutor J.D. Roy Atchison of Gulf Breeze, who was charged last month after allegedly flying to Detroit to have sex with a 5-year-old child, committed suicide today.

Good.

[FReepaholic]

...And the child and his family????

...There was not child, it was a sting operation....

Well, how about the sting's family then???

:-)

[buckleyfan]

The fact that this guy had enough of a conscience to feel guilty makes me wonder if he was a dem.

Just curious, what gives you the impression he felt guilty? He actually pleaded not guilty, and he didn't seem to feel so bad about it (mentioned doing it "plenty" of times before) until he was caught. I assume he committed suicide because he knew what was ahead of him - both in the courts, and in prison. It wouldn't be anything pleasant. jmho.