Authorities stated Monday that a Texas man had been arrested in Indianapolis on suspicion of stalking WNBA player Caitlin Clark.
According to Marion County prosecutors’ complaint, Michael Thomas Lewis, a 55-year-old Denton man, is accused of participating in a “course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of Caitlin Clark that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized,” and he faces one count of stalking.
Lewis, who was arrested Sunday in Indianapolis, allegedly used X to send a slew of obscene, sexually suggestive texts to the WNBA’s rookie of the year between December 16 and January 2.
According to the court affidavit, police were able to track Lewis down by using his IP address, which connected him to the downtown Indianapolis Public Library and the Hilton Garden hotel located at 120 W. Market St.
“Confirmed that he was not a resident of Indiana and that he was from Texas and claimed to be in Indianapolis on vacation,” according to court documents, when officers first spoke with Lewis at the hotel on Wednesday.
According to the affidavit, “Lewis claimed that this is just an imaginary relationship” when questioned about the threatening texts sent to Clark, calling it “an imagination, fantasy type thing and it’s a joke, and it’s nothing to do with threatening.”
“Has been very fearful since learning of the messages and that she has altered her public appearances and patterns of movement due to fear for her safety,” Clark told police during her Saturday interview, according to the affidavit supporting Lewis’ arrest.
“Clark stated that she has become very concerned for her safety after learning that Lewis was in Indianapolis,” according to the complaint. “Clark also stated that she doesn t know Lewis and has never responded to any of his messages or posts.”
Despite being asked to stop making explicit sexual posts on X at Clark, Lewis seemed to be continuing to do so on Sunday night.
Online threats are taken seriously by Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears because they have the potential to become actual crimes.
This case demonstrates how online harassment can swiftly turn into real threats of physical harm, regardless of how well-known you are,” Mears said in a statement.
Many women choose not to speak up in these situations because it takes a lot of bravery. The victim is leading by example by doing this, demonstrating that all women in Indianapolis should be able to live and work without fear of sexual assault.
Clark’s representative was not immediately available for comment on Monday.
According to a representative for Marion County prosecutors, Lewis had not been assigned or hired an attorney by late Monday morning, and his first court appearance is set for Tuesday.
Lewis is “charged with sending a series of sexually violent messages” after having “traveled from his home in Texas to Indianapolis with the intent to be in close proximity to the victim,” according to a memo by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Robert Beatson, and prosecutors said they will seek high bail.