In 2005, Stephen May was falsely accused and later convicted of touching 3 children over their clothing – without evidence or an eyewitness. Today, we know that Stephen has autism along with his lifelong ataxia diagnosis, explaining the behaviors and mannerisms that jurors wrongly interpreted as signs of guilt. His case represents a profound failure of our justice system to accommodate neurodiversity.

The Shocking Truth:

• An innocent man with no prior criminal history is serving a 75-year sentence—effectively a death sentence in prison.
• Stephen was convicted under an unconstitutional Arizona law that has since been changed, yet he remains behind bars.
• There is no physical evidence, no eyewitness, and no proof against Stephen—only uncorroborated allegations.
• Stephen's 75-year sentence is so disproportionate it defies reason.

How Autism and Ataxia Played a Critical Role in His Wrongful Conviction:

• In 2025, Stephen was formally diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in addition to his lifelong ataxia diagnosis, providing a complete picture of his neurological differences.
• Stephen's ataxia causes physical coordination issues and involuntary head movements that jurors misinterpreted as nervous behaviors suggesting guilt.
• His autism explains his differences in social communication, sensory sensitivities, and how he processes emotions and social cues.
• Jurors later admitted they found him guilty partly because of how he presented himself—his limited eye contact, flat emotional expression, and physical mannerisms.
• One juror specifically stated Stephen fit "a perfect profile of someone to do such a crime" based solely on "physical appearance, body language and personality"—clear evidence they convicted him for being different, not for any actual proof of wrongdoing.
• Another juror noted that Stephen "seemed content" and "didn't look confused" during police questioning—traits now recognized as common autistic responses to stress, not indications of guilt.

A Trial That Made a Mockery of Justice:

• Without understanding his neurological differences, the jury judged Stephen on his appearance and autistic traits rather than evidence.
• The jury was improperly recalled after being dismissed—a serious procedural error that compromised their impartiality.
• One juror who originally voted not guilty felt "coerced" into changing their vote and has since expressed deep regret about the conviction.
• The Arizona Board of Executive Clemency denied his request because he wouldn't show remorse for a crime he didn't commit—failing to understand that his autistic presentation might not display emotions as expected. 

A Glimmer of Hope:

Senior U.S. District Court Judge Frederic Block wrote, "An innocent man may have been wrongfully convicted." In his book, A Second Chance: A Federal Judge Decides Who Deserves It, Judge Block dedicates both the book and several pages to Stephen's case, calling him "a perfect candidate for commutation."

We Cannot Remain Silent:

Every day that Stephen spends in prison is an affront to our system of justice. Stephen has already served nearly 17 years—far exceeding the original plea offer he received but rejected because he was innocent. Without our intervention, Stephen faces decades more, condemned to die behind bars for a crime that did not happen, convicted primarily because his neurological conditions made him seem "different" to a jury that didn't understand his ataxia or autism.

Take Action Now:

1. Sign and share this petition widely. Every signature amplifies our demand for justice. Signing our change.org petition https://www.change.org/p/free-stephen-may-end-his-unjust-75-year-sentence-for-unproven-allegations?recruiter=477930&recruited_by_id=97f738c0-ca36-012f-9f07-40401fa5e37a&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_for_starters_page&utm_medium=email
2. Email Sarah Koenig at storypitch@thislife.org. Urge her to feature Stephen's story on the "This American Life" podcast.
3. Visit https://azrsol.org/stephen-may to learn more and leave a supportive comment.

 Don't let Stephen die in prison. His autism diagnosis, along with his lifelong ataxia, provides crucial context that was missing at trial—context that explains why jurors mistook his neurological differences for signs of guilt. Together, we can right this egregious wrong and ensure our justice system accommodates neurodivergent individuals rather than criminalizing them for being different.

Your voice matters. Act now before it's too late.

Thank you,

Stephen's mother