A Texas man is facing legal consequences after being charged with stalking WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Michael Lewis, 55, was arrested in Indianapolis on Sunday at a hotel, where law enforcement officials traced threatening and sexually explicit messages sent via social media directed at Clark.
According to police reports, the messages sent from Lewis to Clark included disturbing content, such as, "@CaitlinClark22 been driving around your house 3x a day..but don't call the law just yet." Another unsettling message illustrated his intention to closely follow her, stating, "I'm getting tickets. I'm sitting behind the bench." The timeline of the communications stretches from December 16 to January 2.
As a player for the Indiana Fever and the projected 2024 Women’s National Basketball Association rookie of the year, Clark took these threats seriously and reported them to the police. She stated that the messages made her feel terrorized and intimidated, leading her to alter her public appearance for safety reasons. ESPN reported that Clark had contacted the authorities before Lewis arrived in Indianapolis to express her concerns.
FBI agents located Lewis after tracking the IP addresses linked to the threatening messages, leading to his arrest. During his questioning, Lewis dismissed the allegations, claiming his communication was merely "an imagination, fantasy type thing and it's a joke, and it's nothing to do with threatening."
Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears emphasized the importance of women coming forward in cases of harassment, stating, "It takes a lot of courage for women to come forward in these cases, which is why many don't." He praised Clark's bravery for setting an example, underscoring the right of women to live and work free from the threat of violence.
This incident comes on the heels of another stalking case involving Oregon resident accused of similar offenses against women’s college basketball star Paige Bueckers, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding safety for female athletes in the public eye.
