Laura Owens Pleads Guilty in False Pregnancy Case Involving Clayton Echard

Laura Owens, 36, pleaded guilty Friday, Aug. 28, after falsely claiming that former “Bachelor” star Clayton Echard was the father of her unborn twins.

Under a plea agreement, Owens pleaded guilty to two counts of fraudulent schemes and artifices, one count of taking the identity of another and one count of perjury, according to local news reports. She faces up to 12½ years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced in October.

Owens filed a paternity lawsuit against Echard in 2023, claiming they had a one-night stand that resulted in a pregnancy with twins. Echard denied having sexual intercourse with her and disputed her pregnancy claims.

In June 2024, an Arizona judge ruled that Owens had knowingly made a false claim. Prosecutors later said an investigation found that Owens had altered an ultrasound image, fabricated a pregnancy video and repeatedly lied under oath between May 2023 and June 2024.

Owens was initially indicted on seven felony charges, including perjury, forgery, tampering with physical evidence and fraudulent schemes and artifices. She pleaded not guilty at the time.

Additional charges were later filed in connection with allegations involving a second man. Prosecutors accused Owens of making similar false claims and other offenses, including identity theft, forgery and extortion by accusation of a crime.

Echard has said that Owens was one of several men she allegedly targeted. He told PEOPLE in 2024 that he hoped the case would prevent her from making similar accusations against others.