A 55-year-old man from Texas has pleaded guilty to stalking WNBA star Caitlin Clark. The man, Michael Lewis from Denton, Texas, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Monday.
Lewis had been in custody since January, after police arrested him at a hotel in Indianapolis. He was charged with felony stalking. Officials say he sent Caitlin Clark disturbing threats and sexually violent messages through social media, including posts on X (formerly Twitter).
According to court documents, Clark did not know Lewis and never replied to his messages. But the threats were so severe that she feared for her life. Reports say she even changed how she looked in public to avoid being recognized.
During the sentencing, Lewis was disruptive in court. He made odd statements about Clark’s safety and even talked about the end of the world. The judge recommended mental health treatment as part of his sentence. Lewis is also banned from attending Indiana Fever or Pacers games and cannot use the internet while serving his sentence.
The court has also ordered Lewis to stay away from Clark entirely.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears spoke after the hearing. He said, “This resolution ensures the defendant is held accountable for the fear he caused. Now, the victim can focus on what matters to her.”
Mears added that this case shows the serious consequences of online threats. “There is a real victim here,” he said. “A 22-year-old young person who is now always looking over her shoulder.”
Lewis continued to send messages to Caitlin Clark even after police warned him. He denied the threats and called it “an imaginary relationship,” but investigators traced the IP address to his hotel room.
The case has sparked fresh conversations around online harassment, safety of athletes, and mental health.
