INDIANAPOLIS — Following the felony stalking charges against Michael Thomas Lewis, a 55-year-old resident of Texas, in connection with Indiana Fever’s rookie star, Caitlin Clark, a dramatic incident unfolded in court. On Tuesday, Lewis proclaimed, “guilty as charged,” as he took his seat in front of the judge.
According to the Marion County prosecutor’s office, Lewis allegedly engaged in persistent and harassing behavior towards the 22-year-old Clark, with the harassment reportedly commencing on December 16. Local media outlet WISH-TV reported that during his initial court appearance, Lewis exhibited erratic behavior, occasionally laughing and joking, while noting that he had not adhered to his medication regimen either during his time in jail or while living in his vehicle.
The prosecuting team argued for a bond amount higher than usual, citing that Lewis made the journey from Texas to Indianapolis purposely to be near Clark. Consequently, a bond of $50,000 was set, with stipulations that, should he post bail, he must wear an ankle monitor and stay within Indiana’s borders.
A not guilty plea was formally entered on Lewis’s behalf by the court, and Judge Angela Davis advised him to maintain silence during his time in jail, only communicating with his legal counsel. Additionally, a no-contact order was enacted, which forbids him from coming within 500 feet of the venues where the Fever hosts their games.
Lewis’s pretrial hearing is scheduled to occur remotely on March 31. Through posts on X, Lewis made claims of driving past Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the home arena of the Indiana Pacers, where the Fever also competes. In a separate post, he alluded to being on the edge of serious legal trouble, stating he had “one foot on a banana peel and the other on a stalking charge.” Some messages directed towards Clark contained sexually explicit content.
Prosecutors detailed that these social media posts instilled feelings of terror, fear, and intimidation in Caitlin Clark, noting the presence of either explicit or implicit threats aimed to create a reasonable fear of sexual battery. The FBI identified Lewis as the owner of the account, tracing the messages back to IP addresses linked to an Indianapolis hotel and a downtown public library.
When Indianapolis police encountered Lewis on January 8 at the hotel, he claimed he was in the city for vacation. Upon questioning regarding his numerous posts about Clark, Lewis responded: “Just the same reason everybody makes posts,” per court documents. He expressed that he intended no harm and fantasized about a potential relationship with Clark.
Caitlin Clark has recently been recognized as the Female Athlete of the Year for 2024 by a prominent sports outlet, after leading the Iowa team to the national championship game last year. She was selected as the first overall pick in the WNBA draft and subsequently honored as the league’s rookie of the year.
