In a twist more dramatic than any rose ceremony, Laura Michelle Owens has been indicted on seven felony charges in Maricopa County, Arizona, for allegedly orchestrating an elaborate pregnancy hoax targeting former Bachelor lead Clayton Echard.
According to the grand jury indictment (Case No. CR 2025-006831-001), Owens is accused of forging medical documents, fabricating videos, lying under oath, and tampering with evidence in a calculated scheme that spanned over a year—from May 2023 to June 2024.
The Alleged Hoax
Prosecutors say Owens faked an entire pregnancy, complete with:
- Doctored sonograms,
- Staged video footage of a “pregnant belly,”
- And false sworn statements made under oath in legal proceedings.
She allegedly claimed Echard was the father of unborn twins and demanded a $1.4 million settlement—claims that were ultimately discredited in civil court.
What She’s Facing: Up to 29.5 Years Behind Bars
If convicted on all counts and sentenced consecutively, Owens could be looking at a maximum of 29.5 years in prison. Here’s how the potential sentence breaks down:
- Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices (Class 2 Felony): 3–12.5 years
- Forgery (Class 4 Felony): 1.5–3 years
- Perjury (4 counts, Class 4 Felonies): Up to 3 years each
- Tampering with Evidence (Class 6 Felony): 4 months–2 years
Sentencing outcomes will depend on judicial discretion and whether any plea agreements are reached. As a first-time offender, Owens may qualify for concurrent sentencing or mitigation—but the charges are serious and carry weight.
Bachelor Nation Reacts
The legal fallout comes after months of viral headlines in 2023 and 2024, when Owens first claimed she was pregnant with Echard’s twins. Echard has consistently denied the claims, and a court later ruled in his favor, finding Owens knowingly filed false claims and acted in bad faith. The civil ruling also resulted in Owens being ordered to pay over $149,000 in attorney’s fees.
That judge’s referral to prosecutors has now led to the criminal indictment.
What’s Next?
Laura Owens is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A trial date has yet to be set, but the legal system—and Bachelor Nation—will be watching closely.
Muzique Magazine will continue to follow updates as this real-life courtroom drama unfolds.
