A 55-year-old Texas man was arrested Sunday on stalking charges in Indianapolis after allegedly sending threats and sexually violent messages to Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark via social media, according to court documents.
Police records show Michael Lewis, of Denton, Texas, was charged with a Level 5 felony after being arrested at an Indianapolis hotel. He is due to appear in court Tuesday morning.
Lewis faces up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police first spoke to Lewis on Wednesday about his alleged messages to Clark on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I was driving around your house 3 times a day,” Lewis texted Clark, according to court documents. “But don’t call the law yet.”
“I’m getting tickets. I’m sitting behind the bench,” another post read.
Other messages were sexually violent, according to court documents.
According to court documents, Clark told police she feared for her safety — even before Lewis arrived in Indianapolis — and even changed her appearance in public.
Mears said investigators tracked the IP address of Lewis’ recent messages and discovered he was at a hotel in Indianapolis. Lewis told police he had “an imaginary relationship” with Clark and had come to Indianapolis on vacation.
The messages continued after the first police visit.
“It takes a lot of courage for women to come forward in these cases, which is why many don’t,” Mears said. “In doing so, the victim sets an example for all women who deserve to live and work in Indy without the risk of sexual violence.
“We commend Pacers Sports & Entertainment and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for the quick and serious action that led to this weekend’s arrest.”
According to The Indianapolis Star, prosecutors decided to ban Lewis from Hinkle Fieldhouse and Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Fever plays both arenas.
In December, a 40-year-old Oregon man received a one-year suspended prison sentence and three years of probation after pleading guilty to a second-degree charge following his arrest for stalking the basketball star -UConn ball, Paige Bueckers.
