Supporting My Stepdad Mike Sweat

If you know my dad, Mike, you know he is a completely rational, steady-headed, and incredibly generous man who always shows up for people without asking for anything in return.

Mike became my stepdad when I was just two years old. He stepped into that role with a lifelong commitment, raising two children who weren’t his own and becoming a grandfather to 11 grandkids. For 35 years, he held down the exact same job—a testament to his loyalty and deep dedication to our family.

Right now, Mike is facing an unthinkable nightmare. The police have filed serious, totally unjustified felony charges against him, claiming he caused severe facial injuries to my sister. We are sharing the exact eyewitness and 911 account here so everyone knows the truth behind these false allegations:

The truth is that my sister and her 17-year-old son got into a physical fight while drinking together. She pulled his hair, and her son brutally struck her in the face and curb-stomped her, knocking her completely unconscious. Terrified by how profusely she was bleeding, the son called my stepdad, Mike, begging for help.

Mike has been battling a severe, painful case of muscular dystrophy that has progressively worsened, forcing him into months of intense pain management. He is currently unemployed and actively working to get on disability. Despite his physical pain, his protective fatherly instincts took over, and he rushed over to help.

When Mike arrived, he immediately tried to assist my sister out of her unconsciousness. When she came to, she woke up extremely belligerent and combative, striking Mike in the face several times. She then tried to run blindly into the street. Mike followed her to protect her and keep her out of traffic, but she punched him in the face again, knocking him down to the ground.

This is where the tragic misunderstanding happened. A passing couple driving by at night saw them in the dark and mistakenly assumed that her son and my stepdad were the ones beating her up. In reality, they were desperately trying to keep her safe and out of oncoming traffic. Fortunately, another motorist witnessed her bizarre, suicidal behavior and described it accurately in a 911 call.

Despite the injuries being entirely caused by her son before Mike ever arrived, the system has placed the blame on a man who was only trying to save a life.

Mike is now facing an overwhelming mountain of attorney fees to fight this broken system and clear his name. Because his resources are entirely drained, he is terrified of losing his house and losing the vital disability benefits he is fighting so hard to secure.

He carried my burdens when I had no one else, and now I am doing everything in my power to carry his. 100% of these funds go directly to his legal defense. If you can donate even a few dollars, it will change his life. If you can’t, please share his story so it can reach the people who can help.

Thank you for helping us bring my dad home and give him his peace back