Home / Crime and Justice / Bachelor Alum's Fraud Case Concludes
Bachelor Alum's Fraud Case Concludes
29 Aug
Summary
- Laura Owens pleaded guilty to four felonies on August 28, 2026.
- She falsely claimed Bachelor's Clayton Echard impregnated her.
- Owens faces probation or over 12 years for fraud.
Laura Owens pleaded guilty to four felonies on August 28, 2026, related to a fraudulent pregnancy claim involving "The Bachelor" star Clayton Echard. She admitted to two counts of fraudulent schemes and artifices, one count of perjury, and one count of taking another person's identity.
Prosecutors will dismiss 10 additional charges as part of the plea agreement. While three counts carry probation, the most serious fraud charge leaves sentencing entirely to the judge, who could impose up to 12 and a half years in prison.
The case began in 2023 when Owens falsely claimed Echard had impregnated her with twins. She pursued a paternity lawsuit, which Echard publicly denied. Evidence presented in family court in June 2024 led Judge Julie Ann Mata to find Owens knowingly presented a false claim.
The judge's ruling, which granted Echard non-paternity and awarded attorney's fees, also included a referral to criminal investigators. Owens was accused of altering ultrasound images and fabricating evidence.
