Changes
→Community reaction
A not guilty plea was entered on Atchison's behalf to the following three charges:
*Traveling across state lines to have sex with someone under 12, a charge added on [[September 18]] which carries a potential life sentence.
On [[September 20]], Atchison attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself with a bed sheet, but was stopped by guards at the Sanilac County Jail where he was being detained.<ref>"Atchison attempts suicide." Associated Press, September 20, 2007.</ref> Despite being transferred to a Milan federal detention facility under suicide watch, he was found unresponsive in his cell on the morning of [[October 5]], apparently from hanging himself. He was taken to a hospital and was pronounced dead at 10:17 a.m.<ref name="hangs">"Atchison hangs self in cell." ''Pensacola News Journal'', October 6, 2007.</ref>
==Family & career==
Prior to his arrest, Atchison lived in [[Gulf Breeze]] with his wife Barbara, a teacher at [[Gulf Breeze High School]], and their three children. He attended the University of Florida and received his law degree from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1986 and has worked in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pensacola since the late 1980s, handling mostly asset forfeitures.
He was also president of the [[Gulf Breeze Sports Association]](GBSA), a youth sports organization. Vice president [[Mike Mabry]] told the ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]'', "Honestly, we're trying to put this behind us. Our goal is to be here for the kids. This is the last thing the kids need. We will move forward."<ref name="jailed"/> Responding to concerns stemming from the comment, "I've done it plenty," [[Gulf Breeze Police]] Chief [[Peter Paulding]] assured residents the department had received no local complaints against Atchison.<ref>"Gulf Breeze officials allay parents' fears." ''Pensacola News Journal'', September 20, 2007.</ref> However, the Detroit office of the FBI will investigate his involvement with the GBSA.<ref name="hangs"/>
==Community reaction==Atchison is was a longtime friend of [[Gulf Breeze City Manager]] , [[Edwin "Buz" Eddy]], who said after the arrest that he hopes hoped the charges are were the result of a misunderstanding. "Before reading about this, I would have trusted him with my wife and kids."<ref>"Child sex sting nabs U.S. prosecutor." ''Detroit News'', September 18, 2007.</ref> After Atchison committed suicide, U.S. Attorney [[Greg Miller]] released a statement saying, "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."<ref name="hangs"/> [[Gulf Breeze Major]] [[Lane Gilchrist]] told reporters, "The only concern I have at this point is the family and that they be able to lead some kind of normal life. It still flabbergasts me that this whole thing happened. I really don’t know what to say about it.”<ref name="hangs"/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==*[http://www.nwfdailynews.com/pdf/Atchison1.pdf September 17 affidavit]*[http://profiles.yahoo.com/fldaddy04 "fldaddy04" profile at Yahoo!] [[Category:2007 deaths|Atchison, Roy]][[Category:Accused criminalsPedophiles|Atchison, Roy]]
[[Category:Prosecutors|Atchison, Roy]]
[[Category:Suicides|Atchison, Roy]]