A Texas man has been charged with felony stalking after allegedly sending a series of threatening and sexually explicit messages to WNBA player Caitlin Clark, authorities in Indianapolis announced. Michael Lewis, a 55-year-old resident of Denton, Texas, was arrested yesterday after an investigation linked him to the messages on X, which authorities said included threats and expressions of a violent sexual nature.
According to a news release from Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears, cited by CBS News, the arrest followed the discovery of messages sent by Lewis that appeared to quickly escalate from harassment to actual threats of physical violence — a worrying trend for online safety. In one message detailed in court documents, Lewis wrote to Clark, "been driving around your house 3x a day." Following up with statements such as, "I'm getting tickets. I'm sitting behind the bench," alarmed both the victim and authorities.
Upon his arrest, Lewis's communication was traced to a hotel room in Indianapolis, where he was staying. Law enforcement officials conducted a welfare check at the hotel last Wednesday, where Lewis reportedly admitted the messages were part of an "imaginary relationship". Despite law enforcement's intervention, the messages continued. In an interview with the Indiana Fever star, Clark expressed that she had become "very fearful" since the messages began and had altered her appearances and movements to ensure safety, as reported by WTHR.
Mears, in statements obtained by both CBS News and Fox59, emphasized the significance of Clark's willingness to come forward. "It takes a lot of courage for women to come forward in these cases, which is why many don't," he said. Highlighting the broader issue of sexual violence, Mears noted that Clark's case set an example for all women "who deserve to live and work in Indy without the threat of sexual violence." If convicted, Lewis could face one to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
This stalking incident comes on the heels of another case involving a female basketball player, wherein an Oregon man was charged in connection with harassment of UConn star Paige Bueckers.
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