THE FULL STORY
Tony's Story — And How You Can Help
Anthony “Tony” Stewart was born with a physical disability and faced serious challenges from early childhood. At age four, he suffered a traumatic fall that left him unconscious. At 13, he was hit by a pickup truck while riding a moped, fell into a coma for more than a month, and had to relearn how to walk, talk, and perform basic daily tasks. The damage was permanent.
As an adult, Tony was left with profound cognitive limitations, an IQ of 68, and significant difficulty understanding consequences, legal concepts, and the world around him.
Despite this, Tony was pulled deeper into the criminal legal system through a cycle of instability, addiction, vulnerability, and repeated institutional contact. He was eventually charged in connection with three traffic stops involving nonviolent drug offenses. No violence was involved. No weapons were involved. Yet he received a sentence of more than 40 years, with over 22 years to serve.
The Prosecution
His prosecution raises profound questions. Over the years, Tony underwent at least 17 competency evaluations. Eight times, he was found incompetent. Twice, doctors found him unrestorable, meaning unlikely ever to become competent. Still, the process continued until he was eventually declared competent to stand trial, even though he had not received the treatment that would have been necessary to change his condition.
In court, Tony openly said he did not understand the charges and did not know what was going on.
Now incarcerated at Greensville Correctional Center, Tony suffers from end-stage renal disease and faces repeated medical emergencies. Because of his disability, he cannot adequately care for himself or advocate for his own needs. This is no longer just a legal issue. It is a human rights issue.
CHRONOLOGY
A life tracked by the system
BIRTH - March 9, 1979
AGE 4
AGE 13 - August 19, 1992
ADULT
CHARGED
17 EVALUATIONS
TRIAL
SENTENCED
NOW
TAKE ACTION
Sign the Petition for Conditional Pardon
Add your name to demand conditional pardon or compassionate release for Anthony Stewart before it is too late.
Email The Governor and State Delegates
Public officials need to hear that Tony’s continued incarceration is inhumane and unjust. Contact the Governor and your State Delegates and urge immediate action.
1. Use links below to find your Virginia State Delegates.
2. Draft a respectful, concise email advocating for Anthony Stewart’s medical clemency or compassionate release. Depending on who you are contacting, please include the following:
When messaging your State Delegates: Ask them to support Anthony’s release and urge them to raise this issue directly with the Governor’s office.
When messaging the Governor: Ask her to exercise their power of clemency and coordinate with relevant state authorities to secure Anthony’s release.
We have an example below that you can copy and paste. Click here to see
3. Paste your message into the Governors online contact form using the link below.
4. Email your State Delegates using your preferred email provider (Gmail, Outlook, etc.).
Find Your House Delegate
Find Your Senate Delegate
Go To Governor’s website
EMAIL BODY
Dear [Governor or Delegate] [Last Name],
I am writing to urge you to take immediate action in support of medical clemency or compassionate release for Anthony “Tony” Stewart.
Mr. Stewart is a medically vulnerable, intellectually disabled man currently incarcerated at Greensville Correctional Center. He suffers from end-stage renal disease and has experienced repeated medical emergencies while in custody. Because of his cognitive impairments, he cannot adequately care for himself or advocate for his own medical needs.
His case raises serious concerns about justice, compassion, and human dignity. He was repeatedly found incompetent to stand trial, and twice deemed unrestorable, yet the prosecution continued until he was ultimately tried and sentenced to decades in prison for nonviolent drug offenses.
Continued incarceration under these conditions serves no just purpose. I respectfully ask that you support immediate intervention and advocate for medical clemency or compassionate release for Anthony Stewart before his sentence becomes a death sentence.
Thank you for your time and leadership.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City, State]
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