Atchison pleads not guilty
FROM STAFF REPORTS Gulf Breeze News news@gulfbreezenews.com

Atchison

Despite the shocking allegations facing federal prosecutor and former Gulf Breeze Sports Association (GBSA) President J.D. Roy Atchison, local authorities are saying there is no evidence that his alleged behavior had a presence in Gulf Breeze.

Atchison, 53, was arrested Sept. 16 after flying to Detroit, Mich. to allegedly have sex with a 5-year-old girl. Arresting officers said they found a Dora the Explorer Doll, earrings and petroleum jelly in his luggage. Atchison was charged with using the Internet to find illicit sex with a minor and crossing state lines to engage in sexual contact with someone younger than 12. Atchison pleaded not guilty to all charges and could face life in prison if convicted. Atchison's Detroit based defense attorney, James C. Thomas, declined to comment on the not guilty plea.

"Until things change in court I'm not a liberty to have any comment at all," Thomas said.

Gulf Breeze Police said they have not received any complaints about Atchison locally. Lt. Rick Hawthorne with the Gulf Breeze Police Department said they would handle the investigation if there were a complaint of criminal activity regarding Atchison within the city limits.

"Fortunately, none of his actions had any impact here in the community - that we know of," said Gulf Breeze Mayor Lane Gilchrist. "Our main concern is the impact for his family that lives here."

Atchison is married and has three children, one college-aged son and two high school-aged daughters. Atchison's wife Barbara is a science teacher at Gulf Breeze High School. Attempts to reach Barbara Atchison were unsuccessful.

In a prepared statement, Atchison's employer, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Gregory R. Miller, said his office was "deeply saddened" by the arrest.

"Investigations and prosecutions of this nature are both sensitive and difficult," Miller's statement said. "Our office is fully cooperating with the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan (Detroit), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Macomb County (Michigan) as they continue their work on this case. We have confidence in the integrity of the work these law enforcers and prosecutors are doing, and believe that in the end, justice will be served. We are, of course, concerned about the welfare of Mr. Atchison's family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them."

GBSA Vice President Mike Mabry released a statement calling Atchison a "valued member of the Gulf Breeze community" and said the federal defendant was involved with the sports association for the past decade. Mabry's statement said Atchison would be put on a leave of absence until the outcome of the case was final. Mabry was unavailable for further comment.

According to reports from Michigan on Sept. 20, Atchison tried to hang himself with a bed sheet while being held at the Sanilac County Jail in Michigan. A suicide watch was lifted the day before by a federal magistrate. Atchison has since been moved to an undisclosed federal facility.

U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts scheduled Atchison's trial for Nov. 27.