‘Bachelor’ alum Clayton Echard’s false pregnancy accuser sentenced to 30 days in prison

Laura Owens, who falsely claimed to be pregnant with twins fathered by former “Bachelor” star Clayton Echard, has been convicted.

Owens, 36, was sentenced Friday to 30 days in jail and seven years of probation by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Rueter, according to the hearing broadcast live by FOX 10 Phoenix.

She faces up to 12 years in prison if she violates her probation.

When given the opportunity to address the court, Owens expressed terror over “what might happen after my speech today,” adding, “But I really don’t want that fear to overshadow what I came to say.” »

“I know there are people who have suffered because of the decisions I made, and I want to take responsibility for that,” she continued. “I pleaded guilty to four felonies and I am deeply, deeply sorry for the pain, distress and expense I have caused them.”

Echard, 33, also spoke in court, saying Owens “wasn’t sorry – she’s sorry she got caught.”

He added that he believes “incarceration is an absolute necessity” because Owens “won’t stop until she is removed from her environment.”

“If she is truly sorry, if she is truly remorseful and if she is truly empathetic for what she did to me and the victims, then I challenge her today to show us that,” he said. “She can say she’s sorry, but show us you really are.”

Owens’ next stint behind bars stems from a paternity suit she filed in 2023, in which she claimed she “engaged in sexual activity” with Echard and was expecting twins in February 2024.

At the time, Owens demanded that Echard undergo a paternity test, also requesting a parenting plan in case he was confirmed to be the father.

Echard, for his part, disputed Owens’ claims, arguing that the lawsuit was “baseless and meritless” because the two had “never had sexual intercourse.”

He then shared a screenshot of a receipt on his Instagram Story that appeared to show a $725 payment for a paternity test, writing, “The truth will set you free.” »

He also claimed to have heard of others who had faced “nearly identical accusations” from Owens.

Owens, who was anonymous at the time, claimed to Page Six that Echard was referring to “2021 and 2022 restraining orders against the same man” and accused him of trying to “mislead people.”

In August, Owens pleaded guilty to four criminal charges stemming from her false pregnancy claims involving Echard and another man.

The charges included two counts of fraudulent schemes and artifices, one count of perjury and one count of impersonating another person.

Under the terms of Owens’ plea deal, 10 additional charges against her, including forgery and tampering with evidence, were dismissed, while no sentencing agreement left it up to the judge to determine her fate.