A Texas man facing felony stalking charges for sending sexually explicit and threatening messages via social media to WNBA star Caitlin Clark pleaded guilty on Monday, July 29 and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by an Indiana judge.
Michael Lewis was arrested last January following an investigation that determined he traveled to Indianapolis with the intent to be in close proximity to Clark, who plays for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever. After being questioned by police about traveling from Texas to Indiana, Lewis continued to send messages to Clark.
Lewis, 55, received the maximum sentence for the felony charge, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office told The Indianapolis Star. He also has a no-contact order with Clark for the duration of the sentence and has agreed to stay away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse and all Indiana Fever events, according to court records.
Clark told police in an interview last January that ‘she has been very fearful since learning of the messages and that she has altered her public appearances and patterns of movement due to fear for her safety,’ according to the charging affidavit. ‘Clark stated that she has become very concerned for her safety after learning that Lewis was in Indianapolis. Clark also stated that she doesn’t know Lewis and has never responded to any of his messages or posts.’
An arrest affidavit for the case detailed more than 15 messages sent from Lewis’ X account to Clark, and many of the messages were sexually explicit or violent.
Police discovered Lewis’ messages in January had come from IP addresses at a Hilton Garden Inn near Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, as well as the downtown Indianapolis Public Library. Lewis’ presence in Indianapolis was concerning as he is Denton, Texas, resident, according to the affidavit.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department made contact with Lewis on Jan. 8 at his hotel room concerning the messages, according to police documents. Lewis said the posts that were threatening in nature were not from him and acknowledged, ‘this is just an imaginary relationship.’
Despite the initial encounter with law enforcement, the inappropriate messages from Lewis to Clark continued. The Marion County Prosecutors office announced Lewis’ arrest on Jan. 13.
‘No matter how prominent a figure you are, this case shows that online harassment can quickly escalate to actual threats of physical violence,’ Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement issued last January. ‘It takes a lot of courage for women to come forward in these cases, which is why many don’t. In doing so, the victim is setting an example for all women who deserve to live and work in Indy without the threat of sexual violence.’
Clark has missed 13 games this season and is currently out with a right groin injury. The Fever (14-12) host the Mercury at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 30.