Caitlin Clark Stalker Sentenced to 18 Months for Threats and Harassment

• Jul 29, 2025

A 55-year-old man from Texas has been sentenced to more than 18 months in prison for stalking WNBA star Caitlin Clark. The man, Michael Lewis, pleaded guilty to stalking and harassing the Indiana Fever player through repeated threats and disturbing messages sent via social media.

Lewis was arrested in January at a hotel in Indianapolis after authorities tracked his threatening online posts. He had allegedly sent Clark several messages through his X (formerly Twitter) account, including one in which he claimed to be driving around her house and asked her not to "call the law just yet." Another post stated he had purchased a ticket to sit behind the Fever bench at one of her games.

In one of the more alarming messages, Lewis wrote, "They said I was sending threatening texts. But the only though [sic] on my mind was….CAITLIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNN." Clark told police she was afraid for her safety and had even started altering her appearance in public to avoid being recognized.

Lewis’s sentence includes time served at Marion County Adult Detention Center, where he has been held since his January arrest. The judge also ordered that he have no contact with Caitlin Clark, stay away from all Indiana Fever and Indiana Pacers games and facilities, and not use the internet during his sentence. Mental health treatment was also recommended.

"You can’t help yourself until you get help," the judge said to Lewis, who made concerning statements in court, including claiming that the end of the world was coming.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears praised the outcome, saying, "This resolution ensures that the defendant is held accountable for his threatening actions, the fear he instilled, and the disruption he caused." Mears added that Lewis would now spend the next two and a half years in the Department of Correction, giving Clark the peace of mind to focus on her career.

The case has also highlighted the difficulty many women face when reporting harassment. "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 is setting an example for all women who deserve to live and work in Indy without the threat of sexual violence."