Key Highlights:

• Michael Lewis, 55, charged with felony stalking of WNBA star Caitlin Clark, made bizarre statements during his court hearing.
• Lewis has been accused of harassing Clark consistently since December 16.
• The court has mandated a $50,000 bail and issued a no-contact order prohibiting Lewis from proximity to Clark.

In a tumultuous court appearance in Indianapolis, Texas resident Michael Thomas Lewis, 55, openly declared himself “guilty as charged” in response to stalking allegations involving WNBA’s Caitlin Clark. Lewis is facing felony charges for his unyielding pattern of harassment against the rising star, which is said to have begun on December 16, according to the Marion County prosecutor's office.

During the hearing, Lewis displayed erratic behavior, laughing and joking despite the serious nature of the proceedings. His lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, after Judge Angela Davis advised him to remain silent and communicate solely with his counsel. Lewis’s antics included an unsolicited comment about a “junior” suffix in his name, demonstrating a lack of seriousness regarding the situation he is embroiled in.

Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever rookie and acclaimed athlete recognized as the 2024 Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press, has been subjected to a series of threatening messages from Lewis. Reports indicate that these communications were sexually explicit in nature and led to her experiencing feelings of terror and intimidation.

Lewis was apprehended at an Indianapolis hotel after disregarding warnings from law enforcement. The court has stipulated that, should Lewis post the $50,000 bail, he must wear an ankle monitor and remain in Indiana, distanced from both Gainbridge Fieldhouse and Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse, where Clark’s boyfriend serves as an assistant coach.

Adding to the disturbing narrative, the FBI traced Lewis’s threatening messages to his social media account, which was linked to an IP address from both his hotel and a downtown library. In his posts, Lewis hinted at stalking intentions, describing himself as being “on a banana peel” in relation to the charges brought against him. His pretrial hearing is scheduled for later this month, where further developments are anticipated.

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