Man accused of stalking Caitlin Clark says he wants to stay in jail, shouts ‘guilty as charged’ in court

INDIANAPOLIS – The Texas man accused of stalking WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark loudly declared he is “guilty as charged” Tuesday before a judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Michael Thomas Lewis, 55, uttered several outbursts during his first court appearance since he was arrested over the weekend and accused of making a series of vulgar, threatening comments online at Clark, the Indiana Fever superstar.

Moments after Marion County Superior Court Judge Angela Davis called Lewis’ arraignment, Lewis shouted, unprompted, that he is “guilty as charged.”

He later exclaimed “Throw me the bookish one!” and “I’m free! I think you’ve got the wrong guy!” while complaining that his name did not contain a “Jr.” in the court records.

Whenever Lewis – wearing an orange jail jumpsuit and black sandals – spoke out of turn, the courtroom would turn to him and ask him to sit up straight and not interrupt.

Davis read through the charges that Lewis “terrorized, intimidated or threatened” Clark and caused a “reasonable fear of sexual harassment.”

Lewis replied, “Can I say something?” before Davis replied emphatically: “Not yet.”

Asked if he has mental illness, he told the court: “I need my medication.” Asked again if he needed a lawyer, he replied that he needed his medication.

Lewis confirmed that he cannot afford a lawyer and that he is not working. Asked if he lives in Texas, he replied, “Sort of. I live in my vehicle.”

He told the court he has $100 in savings and that his car, a 2016 Toyota Avalon, is worth “ballpark 10 grand.”

Lewis signed court orders agreeing to stay away from Gainbridge Fieldhousehome arena of Indiana feverand not having contact with Clark. He was also barred from entering historical Hinkle Fieldhouse, where Clark’s girlfriend, a Butler University assistant basketball coach Connor McCafferyworks.

“If you violate stay-away or no-contact orders, the court will revoke your bond,” Davis told him.

Davis pleaded not guilty on Lewis’ behalf and ordered him held in lieu of $50,000 bond. If he was able to find that money, Lewis would have to stay in Indiana and wear a GPS monitor, Davis said.

But Lewis said he has no intention of posting bail.

“I don’t want bail, bond, whatever,” he said. “I’m here. I’m staying.”

The court appointed defense attorney Gavin Uitvlugt as Lewis’ representative. He declined to comment after Tuesday’s 15-minute hearing.

Lewis is charged with one count of stalking, accused of engaging in a “course of conduct involving repeated or persistent harassment of Caitlin Clark that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized,” according to a complaint filed by Marion County prosecutors .

From Dec. 16 to Jan. 2, Lewis used X to send a series of vulgar, sexually graphic messages to Clark, college basketball’s leading scorer and WNBA Rookie of the Year, prosecutors said.

Police found him through an IP address linking him to the Hilton Garden hotel at 120 W. Market St. and the downtown branch of the Indianapolis Public Library, according to the court affidavit.