GB man nabbed in Michigan

Atchison 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.

"He's squeaky clean," said one local official, on condition of anonymity. Another says there was no indication of any untoward behavior on his part as a coach and president of the Gulf Breeze Sports Association (GBSA).

However, the mug shot confirms Roy Atchison is the same local resident who serves as GBSA president and assistant U.S. attorney. He was arrested in Detroit, Mich. for allegedly attempting to engage in sexual activity with what he thought was a 5-yearold girl.

According to court documents, John David Roy Atchison, 53, was arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Sept. 16.

Atchison appeared in federal court in Michigan on Sept. 17 and was charged with using the Internet to entice a child into having illicit sex.

Court papers indicate a Macomb County Sheriff's Office detective working for the Macomb Area Computer Enforcement Team (MACE) created an undercover persona posing as a mother who allows her children to have sex with men. Court papers say the persona was created to identify people interested in illicit sexual conduct with minors. Authorities said MACE operatives never actively sought subjects and were contacted voluntarily.

The court documents say Atchison contacted the undercover agent on Aug. 29 and described himself as a male from Florida who was "very much a family man." The affidavit from the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Michigan says a yahoo account registered under the name John Davidson maintained almost daily contact with the undercover persona from Aug. 31 to Sept. 13. Investigators traced the Internet protocol address to Atchison's home in Gulf Breeze.

Detectives said Atchison assured the mother-persona that there would not be any physical damage to the child stating: "I'm always gentle and loving; not to worry; no damage ever; no rough stuff ever; I only like it soft and nice." When the undercover detective asked how he could he could be so sure, detectives say Atchison responded with: "I can be absolutely sure; just gotta go slow and very easy is how; I've done it plenty."

Atchison departed from Pensacola Regional Airport at 9:10 a.m. Sept. 16, transferred flights in Houston, Texas and arrived in Detroit, Mich. late in the afternoon on the same day.

Atchison is the current president of GBSA, an organization with which he has been affiliated as parent, youth coach and board member for approximately nine years.

Some associates remain hopeful that Atchison will be exonerated from a tragic mistake.

"He's a friend," one man said. "I would have trusted him with my grandchildren."

Others say they refused to believe the rumors until they had the chance to confirm that Roy Atchison was the same one accused of such a heinous plan.

Another said there had never been any reason to suspect that Atchison, a high ranking government official and community volunteer, was a pedophile.

Gulf Breeze Police Department officers removed computers and other evidence from the Atchison family home on Shoreline Drive, where family members were said to be blindsided by the arrest.

Atchison's associates at the U.S. Attorney's office in Pensacola declined to comment.

As Assistant U.S. Attorney, Atchison tried several high profile local cases. He would have known the risk of his alleged actions, one official said.