Michael Lewis, 55, was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for stalking WNBA star Caitlin Clark. The sentencing took place on Monday, after Lewis pleaded guilty to sending numerous threats and sexually explicit messages to Clark.
Despite pleading guilty, Lewis continued to deny responsibility for his actions, causing tension during the court hearing.
Denial of Responsibility Despite Plea
Inside the courtroom, Lewis shouted, “guilty as charged” but repeatedly denied threatening Clark, saying, “I just want her to be safe. I’ve never threatened her. I’ve never thought about threatening her.”
Despite his guilty plea, the judge pointed out that he had to accept responsibility as part of the plea deal, stating, “He is going to talk himself out of a plea.”
The Stalking Incident and Investigation
In January, Clark reported to the police that she had been forced to change the locations of her public appearances to avoid Lewis, who had been sending threatening messages.
Investigators traced the threatening messages to an X account linked to an IP address at a hotel in Indianapolis, where Lewis was staying at the time.
The situation was particularly concerning because Lewis is a resident of Texas, far from Indianapolis. When questioned about the threats, Lewis claimed that he didn’t make them and called the entire situation an “imaginary relationship”.
Court’s Sentencing and Recommendations
In addition to his 2.5-year sentence, the judge recommended that Lewis receive mental health treatment and issued a no-contact order between him and Clark. Lewis is also banned from using the Internet as part of his sentence. After time served, he will spend about a year and a half in prison.
The Impact on Caitlin Clark
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears commented on the case, emphasizing how online harassment can quickly turn into real threats of physical harm. He said,
“No matter how prominent a figure you are, this case shows that online harassment can quickly escalate to actual threats of physical violence.”
Mears also added that the resolution of the case would allow Caitlin Clark to focus on what matters to her, knowing that Lewis has been held accountable for his actions.
