Scottsdale 'Bachelor' accuser indicted on fraud charges after claiming pregnancy
Laura Owens, the woman a judge said falsely accused former "The Bachelor" contestant Clayton Echard of impregnating her, has been indicted on fraud charges, according to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
Owens, of Scottsdale, filed a petition for a court order of paternity seeking child support from Echard in Maricopa County Superior Court in August 2023.
Owens initially claimed that she became pregnant with twins after having sex with Echard.
Echard claimed Owens' paternity lawsuit was filed as a form of harassment and denied paternity. In court filings, he said they had oral sex, but "that was all."
Echard accused Owens of lying and fabricating medical documents. His attorneys also submitted examples of Owens threatening to take the story to the press.
In a scathing ruling issued in June 2024, a judge sided with Echard, finding Owens had altered documents, changed the results of a pregnancy test, given false testimony and potentially perjured herself in what the judge said appeared to be "a case of serial fabrications."
Judge Julie Mata wrote that Owens had acted unreasonably, saying she had initiated litigation "without basis or merit."
"Without an authentic ultrasound, sonogram, physical examination, and in conjunction with a belief she passed tissue in July 2023, the Court finds the underlying Petition premature at best," Mata wrote. "At worst, however, fraudulent and made to incite communication, a relationship, or both, with (Echard)."
In her decision to award attorneys' fees to Echard, Mata said Owens' petition was not filed in good faith nor was it grounded in fact or based on law.
Mata found Owens provided false testimony about her pregnancies in three cases and presented false claims.
In addition, Mata referred Owens for felony prosecution for violating Arizona's laws regarding perjury and evidence tampering.
An Arizona appeals court upheld the trial court ruling in April.
A spokesperson for the County Attorney's Office on May 6 said the office had been investigating Owens after the referral from Mata.
"MCAO investigators found that between May 2023 and June 2024, Owens altered an ultrasound image, fabricated a pregnancy video, and lied multiple times under oath," the spokesperson said in a news release.
Court documents showed a grand jury indicted Owens on seven felony counts:
One count of fraudulent schemes and artifices, a Class 2 felony.
One count of forgery, a Class 4 felony.
Four counts of perjury, a Class 4 felony.
One count of tampering with physical evidence, a Class 6 felony.
Owens did not immediately respond to attempts to reach her for comment on May 6.
Upheld: Former 'Bachelor' star Clayton Echard wins again in Arizona paternity case
Have a news tip? Reach the reporter at jjenkins@arizonarepublic.com or 812-243-5582. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JimmyJenkins.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Officials: 'Bachelor' accuser faked pregnancy video, lied under oath
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