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Michael Lewis, a 55-year-old individual from Texas, has been sentenced to more than 18 months in prison after admitting to stalking and harassing Indiana Fever basketball star Caitlin Clark.
Lewis was taken into custody in January at a hotel in Indianapolis and charged with felony stalking for allegedly sending repeated threats and violent messages to Clark through social media, according to court records.
Lewis’ sentence includes time already served at Marion County Adult Detention Center, where he has been since his arrest.
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever sits on the bench after being taken out of a game with a possible injury during the second half of a game against the Connecticut Sun at the TD Garden on July 15, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
“This resolution ensures that the defendant is held accountable for his threatening actions, the fear he instilled, and the disruption he caused,” stated Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears. “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,” he mentioned following Lewis’ sentencing.
Lewis has also been instructed to have no contact with Clark, to avoid Fever or Indiana Pacers games and their properties, and not to access the internet as part of his sentence.
He has also been advised to seek mental health treatment.
“You can’t help yourself until you get help,” the judge told Lewis during Monday’s hearing, where Lewis expressed concerns about the end of the world.
Lewis had been sending messages to Clark through his X account, including one where he mentioned driving around her house multiple times and advising her “not to call the law just yet.” He also indicated that he had purchased tickets to a game right behind the bench.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) plays against the Dallas Wings in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Sept. 15, 2024. (Michael Conroy/AP Photo)
“They said I was sending threatening texts. But the only thought on my mind was….CAITLIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNN,” read another message from Lewis to Clark.
Clark had expressed concerns for her safety before Lewis even arrived in Indianapolis, mentioning that she would change her appearance before going out in public.
When questioned about the messages on Jan. 8, Lewis reportedly downplayed the number of messages he sent to Clark, describing it as a “fantasy-type thing” and a “joke.”
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever wears a shirt saying “Pay us what you owe us” prior to the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
“It takes a lot of courage for women to come forward in these cases, which is why many don’t,” said Mears when Lewis was arrested. “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.”
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