Prosecutor held in child sex sting tries suicide

updated 12:38 p.m. ET Sept. 20, 2007

DETROIT - A federal prosecutor from Florida who authorities say flew to Michigan for a sexual encounter with a 5-year-old girl tried to hang himself in his jail cell Thursday but was stopped in time, the sheriff said.

John D.R. Atchison, 53, used a sheet in an attempted hanging around 4 a.m., said Sanilac County Sheriff Virgil Strickler.

Another inmate yelled out to jailers, who kept Atchison from hurting himself, Strickler said.

The 119-bed Sanilac County Jail is in Sandusky, about 75 miles north of Detroit. U.S. marshals sometimes use it to house federal prisoners. Marshals moved Atchison after the suicide attempt, the sheriff said. Atchison's destination was not known.

The married father of three is an assistant U.S. attorney based in Pensacola, Fla., and president of a youth sports association in Gulf Breeze.

He was arrested Sunday and was initially placed on a suicide watch, but the watch was lifted at the request of the defense, after Atchison assured a U.S. magistrate Tuesday he wouldn't harm himself.

Atchison was arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after arriving for a meeting with someone authorities say Atchison thought was the mother of a 5-year-old girl with whom he allegedly arranged to have sex. The woman was actually a Macomb County sheriff's detective participating in an Internet sex sting operation.

Atchison was charged with three felonies, the most serious of which is crossing state lines with intent to have sex with someone under 12. Conviction carries a minimum 30-year prison sentence and a maximum of life.

His defense lawyer, James C. Thomas, has declined to comment on the arrest. He told the Detroit News that he regretted asking for the suicide watch to be lifted.

Atchison's boss, U.S. Attorney Gregory R. Miller, said in a statement earlier this week that his office was cooperating with the investigation. He said staff members were "deeply saddened by the arrest."

More from msnbc.com Red Tape: Forget the package: At stores, size does matter Great Recession spawns crop of buzzwords Is your bank in trouble? More report bad loans Chaos and confusion - another day in Kabul When officials reject stimulus funds, sparks fly Send us your holiday pictures to troops Scoop: Tiger and wife headed for permanent split

MORE FROM CRIME & COURTS

Crime & courts Section Front

Jury convicts Seattle Jewish center shooter   Cops accused of cover-up in immigrant attack Ohio court: Cell phone searches need warrant DNA testing clears man who served 28 years Feds arrest 26 in massive Medicare fraud Husband of missing Utah mom isn’t talking Police: Girl, 12, raped in school stairwell Police find slain family in upscale Calif. home Police probe sleep aid allegation against day care Motivational speaker accused in Las Vegas death Crime & courts Section Front   Add Crime & courts headlines to your news reader: