Laura Owens has officially been sentenced following her high-profile conviction for a fraudulent scheme involving fake pregnancy claims targeting former “The Bachelor” star Clayton Echard and other men.
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge ordered the 36-year-old Scottsdale resident to serve 30 days in jail, accompanied by seven years of supervised probation.
The scheme and legal breakdown
The legal ordeal originated when Owens publicly claimed to be pregnant with twins fathered by Echard, releasing doctored ultrasound photos and fabricated medical records.
Investigators subsequently revealed that the claims were completely fabricated. Owens previously pleaded guilty to four felony charges, including two counts of fraudulent schemes, one count of perjury and one count of taking another person’s identity.
Emotional statements in court
During the emotional sentencing hearing, Echard delivered a powerful victim-impact statement urging the court for strict accountability. He described the multi-year ordeal as calculated emotional abuse that left long-lasting damage on his personal and professional life.
An additional victim’s statement was read into the record detailing how Owens stole an ultrasound image from a personal blog to manipulate her targets.
Owens addressed the judge through tears, stating she was terrified of jail but accepted accountability for her actions.
