By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A woman convicted of tricking men into thinking she was pregnant, including “Bachelor” contestant Clayton Echard, will spend 30 days behind bars.
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After a plea agreement, Laura Owens was sentenced as prosecutors laid out how they say she manipulated the men.
The prosecution laid out a timeline in which they say Owens faked pregnancies to force men into relationships and filed a lawsuit that included several allegations, including abortion coercion and domestic violence. Prosecutors also say Owens stole a woman’s ultrasound and passed it off as her own.
Echard targeted, prosecutors say
Prosecutors say Owens contacted Echard, who was the star of “The Bachelor” season 26 and a Scottsdale realtor, on May 17, 2023, about a real estate deal. They say the two had oral sex but no intercourse on May 20. Owens claimed she was pregnant on June 1 after obtaining hormone injections that can increase pregnancy chances from a spa, which she claimed helped improve her skin. She filed for paternity in August 2023, prosecutors say.
“The method that she chose was [human chorionic gonadotropin],” a prosecutor said, describing how they say she created false positive pregnancy tests.
Stolen ultrasound
Prosecutors say Owens stole a twin ultrasound from Stormy Mitchell, who said she lost one twin to vanishing twin syndrome.
“It is the only photo I will ever have of my twins together,” Mitchell said in a statement read in court.
Prosecutors also said Owens edited photos to look pregnant.
“Parts of the body are obscured and taken away so you can make yourself look pregnant,” a prosecutor said.
Victims speak
Echard told the judge, “I’ve been fighting for the last three and a half years.”
His attorney, Gregg Woodnick, said in a statement later provided to Arizona’s Family that while Owens’ “jail sentence is less than the State and the victims requested, a dangerous person left the court in handcuffs.”
“Her prepared statement included words of remorse, but I think those who understand what she has done to so many victims for nearly a decade found her presentation to be performative and contrived,” Woodnick said.
In a statement read in court, another victim of Owens, Greg Gillespie, said that she caused him to spend years defending his reputation, livelihood and name.
He is seeking nearly $300,000 in restitution, according to the statement.
Parents ask for mercy
Owens’ mother, Jan Owens, said Laura lives in a casita on their property and is a vital caregiver for her father, prominent longtime Bay Area radio broadcaster Ronn Owens. She said Ronn is 81, has several medical issues and relies on Laura for daily care.
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Jan Owens said it has been gut-wrenching over the past 10 years to watch Laura as the target of unspeakable emotional and physical abuse and cyber harassment.
“She has been pregnant. She has had verified medical proof of pregnancy. She has been abused. She has been suffocated and strangled by men she has been with,” Jan Owens said.
She asked that her daughter receive probation only.
Ronn Owens told the court, “I love my daughter more than I can put into words,” and begged not to take her away for whatever time he has left.
Owens emotional over threats
Laura Owens became emotional talking about threats she said she and her family received.
She said supporters of victims sent death threats, posted her family’s address online and told her to take her own life.
“We didn’t know what was gonna happen if this person was gonna actually come to my family’s house and shoot my mom, and I felt so guilty about it,” Owens said.
She also told the court, “I want the rest of my life, and not just my words today, to show how completely, terribly sorry I am for everybody I’ve harmed.”
The judge said in deciding the sentence he weighed “whether or not she’s this sophisticated con person or a very sad individual making some poor choices,” adding, “So obviously, I think it’s the latter.”
The judge imposed 30 days of flat time plus 12 months of deferred jail starting Oct. 22, 2027, and warned Owens she faces up to 12.5 years in prison if she violates probation.
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