Michael Lewis, from Denton, was arrested in January for stalking the Indiana Fever star.
INDIANAPOLIS — The man accused of stalking Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark pleaded guilty to stalking and harassment.
Michael Lewis, 55, was arrested on Jan. 12 in Indianapolis, after sending Clark numerous threats and sexually explicit images on social media.
During Lewis’ hearing on Monday, July 28, the judge had to stop frequently to correct Lewis’ behavior.
Lewis was sentenced the same day and was required to avoid any contact with Clark and to stay away from any Fever or Pacers games, events or properties. With time served credit, Lewis’ sentence works out to a little more than a year and half to be served in prison.
Lewis has been held at the Marion County Adult Detention Center since his arrest.
During his statement to the court before sentencing, Lewis said of Clark, “I want her to be safe.”
But Lewis also claimed that he was doing what he did to try and highlight security concerns for Clark.
“I’ve never threatened her, I’ve never thought about threatening her,” Lewis said during his pre-sentencing statement.
“He is going to talk himself out of a plea,” the judge said, after interrupting Lewis’ statement. “You have to understand that as part of a plea deal, you are admitting responsibility.”
Lewis went on to prophesize the end of the world was coming.
Ultimately, the judge accepted his plea and ordered Lewis not to use the internet while serving his sentence. She also recommended mental health treatment for him.
“You can’t help yourself until you get help,” the judge told him.
“This resolution ensures that the defendant is held accountable for his threatening actions, the fear he instilled, and the disruption he caused,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said. “He will now spend the next two and a half years in the Department of Correction and the victim will be able to have peace of mind while focusing on what matters to her.”
‘Threats and sexually explicit messages’
According to court documents, Lewis was sending the threats and sexually explicit messages to Clark on X, formerly known as Twitter, so the FBI sent an emergency disclosure request to X, requesting Lewis’ account information.
Court documents say investigators confirmed the recent messages from Lewis came from a hotel located in the 100 block of West Market Street in downtown Indianapolis and another IP address from a business in downtown Indy.
According to court documents, IMPD officers went to Lewis’ hotel room on Wednesday, Jan. 8 on a welfare check.
After knocking on the door, police said Lewis willingly came out and talked to officers. Lewis confirmed he was from Texas and told officers he was in Indianapolis on vacation. When police asked why he was making so many posts about Clark, he allegedly said “just the same reason everybody makes posts.”
Court documents say when police asked about the posts that were threatening in nature, Lewis said “it wasn’t him” and claimed that it was just an “imaginary relationship.”
Despite this, the messages continued.
“The turning point in this investigation was when you saw someone take the affirmative step of going from Texas to Indianapolis,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said.
According to court documents, police interviewed Clark, who said she has been “very fearful” since learning about Lewis’ messages. She also told police that she has altered her public appearances and patterns of movement due to fear for her safety.
“I hope everyone focuses on the fact that there is a real victim here. There is a 22-year-old young person here who has been profoundly impacted by what is being said. I think, hopefully, (this case) also highlights there are consequences to what people say online,” Mears said. “You have someone who is now looking over their shoulder, because they don’t know, is this going to be the day or the time when I have to encounter this person in person?”
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