A Texas man has been charged with felony stalking over violent threats against Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark—and the details of his DMs are chilling.
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00:00A Texas man has been charged with felony stalking over violent threats against Indiana Fever
00:06star Katelyn Clark, and the details of his DMs are chilling.
00:10Wish reported that 55-year-old Michael Lewis was arrested on Sunday, January 12th at a
00:15hotel in downtown Indianapolis. He had allegedly traveled from his home in Denton, Texas to
00:20Indiana after first sending messages to the 22-year-old WNBA star in mid-December 2024.
00:27The content of the messages, sent from his ex-account, was both sexually explicit and
00:31frighteningly specific, with Lewis accused of writing,
00:35"...been driving around your house three times a day, but don't call the law just yet."
00:39In another message, Lewis shared his intention to get close to Clark at her workplace, saying,
00:44"...I'm getting tickets. I'm sitting behind the bench."
00:47Prior to his arrest, officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department made contact
00:51with Lewis on Wednesday, January 8th. Lewis, according to court documents, said he had
00:56a, quote, "...imaginary relationship with Clark," and was simply taking a vacation in
01:00Indianapolis. He told police,
01:02"...it's an imagination fantasy type thing, and it's a joke, and it's nothing to do with
01:07threatening."
01:08According to court documents, police advised Lewis to stop sending messages that could
01:12be perceived as threatening, but the messages reportedly continued. Clark reportedly told
01:17police she does not know Lewis, and never responded to his DMs.
01:21Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears said the FBI was involved in the case, and had
01:26connected Lewis' messages to a hotel in downtown Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Public Library.
01:32In a statement, Mears said Clark's fame doesn't shield her from such threats, noting,
01:36"...no matter how prominent a figure you are, this case shows that online harassment can
01:40quickly escalate to actual threats of physical violence. It takes a lot of courage for women
01:45to come forward in these cases, which is why many don't."
01:48Clark also spoke to police about the case, saying she feared for her safety and was taking
01:52measures to disguise herself in public. Clark has altered her public appearances and patterns
01:57of movement, according to court documents.
01:59"...also when I step off the court, like, I try to be, like, very authentic and very
02:03genuine."
02:04The Indianapolis Star reports that prosecutors seek to ban Lewis from both arenas The Fever
02:08Call Home, The Hinkle Fieldhouse, and The Gainbridge Fieldhouse. If found guilty of
02:13the charges, Lewis could face up to six years in prison.
02:18For more stories, visit nyseagrant.org