Laura Owens faces sentencing: How a faked pregnancy against 'Bachelor' star Clayton Echard could lead to prison time for Ronn Owens' daughter

Laura Owens is due to be sentenced after admitting to felony offenses linked to a fake pregnancy case involving former Bachelor star Clayton Echard. The Arizona woman pleaded guilty in August after investigators accused her of falsifying medical evidence and making false statements under oath.

The case began as a paternity dispute in 2023 but later became a criminal investigation. Owens now faces a possible prison sentence of up to 12 and a half years.

Why is Laura Owens facing sentencing?

Owens, 35, filed a paternity lawsuit against Echard in 2023, claiming he had fathered her twins. Echard denied the pregnancy claims. He told 12News in 2024 that the pair had shared intimate moments but never had sexual intercourse.

Prosecutors alleged that Owens altered an ultrasound image, created a fake pregnancy video and repeatedly lied under oath. Echard also told 12News that the ultrasound video she gave him could be traced to an older YouTube video showing another woman's pregnancy.

Owens later told the court she had suffered a miscarriage. However, a family court judge found that she had knowingly made a false claim and referred the matter for criminal prosecution.

Investigators said the alleged conduct was not limited to Echard. Owens was indicted on seven felony charges connected to him, with seven additional charges filed in a separate case involving another man. She ultimately pleaded guilty to four felonies in August.

Clayton Echard’s attorney says the ordeal has taken years

Speaking to FOX 10, Echard’s attorney said his client was ready to move on after years of dealing with the case.

"Clayton's exhausted by this. I've been spending time with him on and off for years since this first happened. I remember the first day I met him, when Laura was, you know, faking pregnancy essentially with twins and knowing that she had done that before to at least one other victim," he said.

He added: "It's been a lot of years of watching Laura do a lot of damage to a lot of men. She faked medical records. She fakes medical conditions. She's faking pregnancy. She faked twin pregnancies multiple times, and it finally caught up to her," he said.

What sentence could Laura Owens receive?

Owens’ sentencing was scheduled for October 23, with reports giving different start times of 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. She could receive up to 12 and a half years in prison, though probation is also a possible outcome.

Her guilty pleas mark a major development in a case that drew attention because of Echard’s reality-TV fame. The sentencing will determine what consequences Owens faces for the offenses she admitted to committing. The information is taken from Fox 10 Phoenix and 12 News.