Post by anointedteacher on Sept 29, 2007 19:51:43 GMT -5
By DAVID N. GOODMAN
Associated Press Writer
DETROIT -- 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 was indicted on an additional charge Tuesday 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 Tuesday that it was placing him on leave until the charges were resolved.
"Roy Atchison has been an active 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 statement.
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 that 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.
Associated Press Writer
DETROIT -- 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 was indicted on an additional charge Tuesday 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 Tuesday that it was placing him on leave until the charges were resolved.
"Roy Atchison has been an active 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 statement.
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 that 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.
