Caitlin Clark’s alleged stalker makes plea to judge on wild first courtroom appearance

The man accused of stalking WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark declared himself “guilty” in a bizarre scene during Tuesday’s hearing in Indianapolis.

Michael Thomas Lewis, 55, exhibited erratic behavior and caused several outbursts, as seen in footage from Tuesday’s hearing.

At one point he told the courtroom to “throw me the booky,” later claiming “you got the wrong man” after noticing there was no “Jr.” has been added to his name in the case documents.

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Lewis was charged with stalking – a Level 5 felony – after targeting 22-year-old Clark with a series of disturbing messages on X over the past month.

According to Fox59 News Anchor Angela GanoteIndianapolis officers first spoke to Lewis on Jan. 8 after discovering the messages were coming from IP addresses in the city while he was staying at a hotel on N. Market Street.

He allegedly told police he was in an “imaginary relationship” with the women’s basketball sensation before continuing to send her sexually threatening messages, leading to his eventual arrest over the weekend.

Lewis’s

He then posted on December 27: “This fantasy Caitlin relationship is changing me for the better. . And about an hour ago I felt strong Caitlin feelings. .like sensual. .Wow’.

A day later, he seemed to suggest he was already facing a stalking charge, telling Clark in another bizarre message, “I already have one foot on a banana peel and the other on a stalking charge.” . So I can’t wear your hoodie. .will not look good in court’.

“@CaitlinClark22 I’m going to touch myself,” read a separate post on December 31. ‘Not if, but only when the baby is born’.

On January 3, five days before police were first alerted to his social media behavior, Lewis also wrote to Clark: “Do you think I can get your Wi-Fi password? It has locked me out.”

He also added, “Can I come up and get some sugar?” . . . . Sugar’.

The next day, Lewis seemed to suggest that he had moved from Texas to Indianapolis to be closer to Clark, who had joined the Indiana Fever the previous year.

He wrote: ‘I had absolutely no plans to ever come back here. . But I sent you a message saying I want to be with you everywhere. .and then my father says: what are you doing here?

‘[T]then came the decision of all decisions. .I finally had to choose 1. . . Fla or Indy. . omg not easy. .not at all. . I had invested a ton. As I looked at the landscape, my thoughts kept coming back to you. . There’s just no one better for me. .it’s not even close’.

A few days later, he then shared this chilling message: “This is 911, what’s your emergency? . . Caitlin fell in the snow and we can’t find her anywhere. It’s like she’s disappeared. . . . Copper monkey, that funky monkey, copper monkey junkie, that funky monkey.

Lewis’s messages became increasingly sexually threatening over the next week, with the last coming on January 12.

He told Clark in one of the messages, “I am your slave. so work me out’.

Another asked the Fever player: “Will you make out with me?” after another post read: ‘urp*****needsarealgoodpounding’.

“@CaitlinClark22 you don’t like sex, do you?” said another: “only video games and sports.”

Clark came forward and helped report Lewis to authorities, with Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears praising her for being “an example to all women.” She also reportedly admitted to police that she changed her appearance in public out of fear for her safety.

“No matter how prominent you are, this case shows that online harassment can quickly escalate to actual threats of physical violence,” Mears said. ‘It takes a lot of courage for women to come forward in these cases, and that’s why many don’t.

“In doing so, the victim sets an example for all women who deserve to live and work in Indy without the threat of sexual violence.”

Clark, who has been dating boyfriend Connor McCaffery for nearly two years, is nevertheless not the only high-profile women’s basketball player to be targeted by a stalker in recent months.

A 40-year-old man who stalked and harassed Connecticut star Paige Bueckers pleaded guilty to stalking last month after posting on social media that he planned to marry her.

Robert Cole Parmalee, who had an engagement ring and lingerie on him when he was first arrested in August, received a one-year suspended sentence and three years’ probation, a court clerk said.

He originally faced charges of stalking, breach of the peace and harassment, but those were replaced by a single charge of second-degree stalking.