A 55-year-old man from Texas was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to stalking Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, according to a report published by ESPN.
Michael Lewis of Denton, Texas, admitted to one felony count of stalking and one misdemeanor count of harassment in a plea deal with Marion County prosecutors. Court records show he claimed to be in an “imaginary relationship” with the 23-year-old WNBA player.
Lewis has been held at the Marion County Adult Detention Center since his arrest and will receive credit for time already served.
In addition to the prison sentence, a judge ordered Lewis to stay away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indiana Fever and Pacers events, and to have no contact with Clark.
He was also banned from accessing the internet while serving his sentence, according to terms of the plea agreement.
Clark, who was selected first overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft, quickly became one of the league’s biggest names.
She has continued to draw national attention with her historic on-court performances. As a rookie, Clark broke the league’s single-season assist record, surpassed the rookie mark for three-pointers made, and led the Fever to their first postseason appearance since 2016.
Her popularity also made her a target. Law enforcement officials said Lewis traveled to Indiana believing he was in a romantic relationship with Clark and made repeated attempts to contact her and attend team-related events.
Court documents indicated that his behavior escalated to direct harassment, leading to his arrest earlier this year.
