Laura Owens sentenced in Arizona pregnancy fraud case

Laura Michelle Owens, 36, has been sentenced to 30 days in jail and seven years of probation following a guilty plea in a Scottsdale, Arizona, court. Owens pleaded guilty to two counts of fraudulent schemes and artifices, one count of perjury, and one count of taking the identity of another.

The legal proceedings stemmed from schemes involving two men. In one instance, Owens falsely claimed to be pregnant with twins following an encounter with former “The Bachelor” star Clayton Echard. Prosecutors determined that Owens manipulated pregnancy tests, fabricated a pregnancy video, and used an ultrasound image found on the internet to support a paternity lawsuit filed in 2023.

In a separate matter, Owens was found to have used falsified documents to claim pregnancy after a relationship with a second man ended. While Owens was initially indicted on fourteen criminal counts, a plea agreement resulted in the dismissal of the remaining charges.