Clayton Echard has been trying to clear his name for three years. The Bachelor star’s legal battle with an ex is finally over. She was sentenced after pleading guilty to a fake pregnancy scheme involving the reality star. Keep reading for the latest on the shocking scandal.
Bachelor Star Caught Up In Shocking Pregnancy Scandal
News broke in 2023 that Clayton Echard was going to be a father. A woman filed a paternity suit claiming that he was the father of the twins she was carrying. However, he denied getting the woman pregnant, saying it was impossible because they never had sex. The Bachelor claimed that she was blackmailing him to continue their relationship.
Laura Owens eventually dropped the paternity suit, claiming she had miscarried the twins. Clayton Echard sought justice after it was revealed that she was never pregnant to begin with. Laura Owens was indicted in 2025 on fraud charges relating to Clayton Echard. She was hit with more charges a few months later for a pregnancy scheme involving a different man she briefly dated in 2021.
Clayton Echard’s Ex Sentenced After Scheme Exposed
Laura Owens was facing seven felonies related to the second pregnancy scheme. Some of the more serious charges were dropped in a plea deal. PEOPLE magazine reported that she pleaded guilty to two counts of fraudulent schemes and artifices, one count of taking the identity of another, and one count of perjury in August 2026.
Clayton Echard’s ex was back in court this week for sentencing. “I pleaded guilty to four felonies, and I am profoundly, profoundly sorry for the pain, distress and expense that I’ve caused them,” she told the court.
The Bachelor star also addressed the court to petition for Laura Owens to serve jail time. “Laura will not stop until she is removed from her environment,” he said. “She can say she’s sorry, but show us you actually are.”
The judge ultimately sentenced her to one month in jail and seven years of probation. If she ever violates probation, she could serve up to twelve years in prison. It was a long battle for Clayton Echard, but justice was finally served.
However, many Bachelor Nation fans felt that the punishment wasn’t severe enough for the crime. They took to Reddit to call out the judge.
- “She definitely has a mental illness but that should not have given her sympathy from the judge!!!”
- “You know, I’m really not committing enough crimes as a middle class white person. This is absurd.”
- “Oh wow. Only 1 month?? All that work Clayton did for nothing.”
- “One month is so wildly insulting.”
- “I’m so disappointed. Speechless.”
Laura Owens was also given 400 hours of community service and restrictions on technology use, limiting her access to social media. Share your reaction to the sentence in the comments.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger