Laura Michelle Owens, a 36-year-old California native living in Arizona, was sentenced Friday to 30 days in jail and seven years of probation after pleading guilty to four felony counts—including fraudulent schemes, perjury, and identity theft—in a pregnancy fraud scheme targeting former “The Bachelor” star Clayton Echard and another man.
The Reality TV Fallout and Legal Penalties
- Laura Owens received a 30-day jail sentence and seven years of probation on Friday after pleading guilty to four felonies.
- The legal saga began in 2023 when Owens filed a paternity lawsuit against season 26 “Bachelor” star Clayton Echard claiming she was pregnant with his child.
- Prosecutors stated Owens also targeted a second man, Greg Gillespie, using altered ultrasounds and fabricated pregnancy claims before investigators uncovered the fraud.
The 2023 Paternity Lawsuit and Fabricated Claims
The years-long legal saga began in 2023 when Owens filed a paternity lawsuit against Clayton Ray Echard seeking child support, according to prosecutors. The allegations drew scores of headlines well after the final episode of the season featuring Echard aired in 2022. Owens later dropped the suit after claiming she had a miscarriage. However, a Maricopa County judge referred the case to prosecutors after spotting inconsistencies in her statements.
Authorities subsequently determined that Owens altered an ultrasound image, fabricated a pregnancy video, and lied under oath about being pregnant. The investigation led prosecutors to a second man, Greg Gillespie, who had gone out with Owens three times before ending the relationship. Eleven days after they had sex, Owens told Gillespie she was pregnant with twins, using a forged ultrasound image found on the internet to back up her claims, prosecutors said.
Grand Jury Indictments and Guilty Pleas
In May 2025, a grand jury indicted Owens on one count of fraudulent schemes, one count of forgery, four counts of perjury, and one count of tampering with physical evidence in Echard’s case. She was later charged with additional counts of perjury, fraudulent schemes, identity theft, forgery, and theft by extortion regarding Gillespie. In August, Owens entered a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to two counts of fraudulent schemes and artifices, one count of perjury, and one count of taking the identity of another, with prosecutors dropping 10 additional charges.
| Case Milestone | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Lawsuit Filed | 2023 | Owens files paternity suit against Clayton Echard seeking child support. |
| Grand Jury Indictment | May 2025 | Owens indicted on multiple felony counts including fraud and perjury. |
| Guilty Plea | August 2025 | Owens pleads guilty to four felony counts under a plea agreement. |
| Sentencing | Sentenced to 30 days behind bars and seven years of probation. |
Reactions During the Sentencing Hearing
During Friday’s sentencing hearing, prosecutors alleged Owens conducted “psychological warfare” on the two victims, sending hundreds of text messages to support her claims. Addressing the court, Owens apologized for her actions, stating, “I pleaded guilty to four felonies, and I am profoundly, profoundly sorry for the pain, distress and expense that I’ve caused them.”
Clayton Echard rejected the apology during the hearing, telling the court he believes Owens is only upset because she got caught, according to the report. Echard recently spoke on the “Off The Vine” podcast about being caught off-guard when Owens pleaded guilty in August, noting he believed he was targeted because of his appearance on the ABC reality series. Owens’ attorney, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, and Echard all declined further comment to reporters.
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