In Spring 2024, a heartbreaking and devastating chain of events unfolded in Augusta County, Virginia, severely impacting the life of Michael Keys Sr. and his family. Michael’s child, like many children, became a victim of the unthinkable—sexual abuse. This tragedy reopened old wounds for Michael, who himself is a survivor of childhood abuse, igniting a storm of emotional turmoil and triggering a severe mental health breakdown.

In the throes of his despair, consumed by guilt for not being able to protect his child, Michael attempted to take his own life. Overwhelmed, he retreated to a field, ingesting a dangerous amount of drugs in a desperate cry for help. His wife, terrified and distraught, called 911 expecting to receive mental health support and assistance for her husband. Instead, she and Michael found themselves entangled in a nightmare of legal injustices.

Rather than deploying mental health professionals, the local sheriff's department dispatched untrained officers unprepared to manage a mental health crisis. Michael was treated not as a patient in need of urgent care, but as a criminal. To exacerbate the situation, the Commonwealth Attorney misrepresented facts in court, claiming Michael fabricated the abuse allegations—allegations supported by the arrest of the perpetrator twelve days after Michael’s own detainment.

This mishandling by authorities not only criminalizes a mental health crisis but also victimizes an innocent man, who sought help amidst a personal and family crisis. Michael’s deteriorating mental health should have been met with compassion, understanding, and appropriate care—not incarceration.

We urge the justice system of Augusta County to reassess the case of Michael Keys Sr, giving prominence to the substantiated facts. The Commonwealth Attorney’s actions, rooted in misinformation, must be reviewed. We call for the development and implementation of comprehensive mental health response protocols, ensuring that future calls for help are met with trained professionals capable of providing the necessary support.

By signing this petition, you are standing up for justice, for mental health, and for a family that did not receive the support they so desperately needed. Demand the immediate overturning of Michael Keys Sr criminal convictions and request at the most a mental health docket and advocate for systemic change within our community’s approach to mental health crises. It has been nearly 2.5 years since this ordeal,him and his family has finally gotten stable and recently purchased a home ,moved an hour away and really have put this traumatic experience behind them and Augusta county wants to jerk him out of his home ,away from his children who depend on him physically,emotionally and financially to avoid losing everything they’ve built over the past 2.5 years . Michael has stayed in therapy since his release on pre trial and has rehabilitated himself . Come the first of 2027 Augusta county unless his case gets the second look it deserves or thrown out he will be jerked out of a life that he and his family has worked hard to gain over the past 2.5 years. Join us in taking a stand against injustice and in support of those who suffer silently. Sign this petition to right this grievous wrong and help create a community where mental health is met with care, not prosecution.

Arrest,charged ,cast taken off a broken foot,searched ,jailed,no medical attention,no crutches,no cast and put into a large jail block with 60 other inmates and forced to walk around on a broken foot for almost a month

Results…. When released from Jail he went back to drs who determined the break was now a shatter  and needed surgery. He’s went thru 2 surgeries as well as had steal plates put into his foot and will never walk normal again and lives in pain ,can’t run or jog and play sports with his children ,can’t be on it but short stages. Can’t lift or carry weight on it. 
is this how we are supposed to be treated here in American jails and sheriffs departments? Well this is how Michael was treated by Augusta county sheriffs departments deputies and the middle River jail staff. 
Do they care?? Not even a little bit. Will the judge or prosecutor help? Not even a little bit. He’s filed to try to sue and the local judge told him he can’t do it without an attorney. Called around for attorneys and nobody wants to fight against the jail or sheriffs department!!!

Judge. 
Decides to put Michael back into the jail with another 8 month sentence after not one but 2 psychiatric Doctors warned it could highly affect Michael Keys stability and lead to suicide and destroy his family’s life even further. Less cost him his home,cars and being there as a father and husband. The same jail that caused pain and suffering for the past 2.5 years,the same jail that refused him medical treatment and caused him to be altered the rest of his life. 

Is this how we treat our citizens in the United States people?? Is this how we treat a man on disability because he suffers severe mental health issues? I thought the disability act was to help better protect people with disabilities. I thought the constitutional rights of the united state of America mattered? 
Now if that’s not enough,the Augusta circuit court played another unconstitutional role in this treatment. In December 2025 the courts enter into the system 4 criminal charges that Michael was not even convicted of as guilty and he was arrested in a county almost 3 hours away from home,searched and seized,taken to jail and had to set in jail until his wife could come post his bail. To this day Augusta county never contacted the other county to make them aware of the mess up and it’s cost Michael’s family close to 8000.00 in lawyer fees ,loss of wages ,bond etc. 

But to Augusta county criminal justice system who cares. His health don’t care,his medical treatment didn’t matter and it’s proven neither does his kids or family matter to them!!