Scottsdale woman accused of paternity scheme against ‘Bachelor’ star finds more legal trouble

PHOENIX — The Scottsdale woman accused earlier this year of targeting a reality TV star in a paternity scheme was charged this week in another fake pregnancy case, authorities announced.

In May, Laura Owens was indicted on seven felony counts for allegedly trying to scam Clayton Echard out of child support, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

Echard, a Scottsdale real estate agent and former college football player, was a contestant on Season 18 of “The Bachelor” and the star of the popular reality show’s 26th season.

On Tuesday, a grand jury indicted Owens on seven more charges related to a second victim.

Why was Laura Owens charged in another fake pregnancy case?

Prosecutors said the victim in the second case went out with Owens three times in 2021 before breaking things off with her.

Owens then claimed to be pregnant by him and allegedly used falsified documents to support her claim, according to prosecutors.

The new indictment adds the following charges to the accusations against Owens:

• One count of perjury
• One count of fraudulent schemes and artifices
• Two counts of taking the identity of another
• Two counts of forgery
• One count of theft by extortion

The trial for the alleged scheme targeting Echard is scheduled to begin in January 2026. She faces the following charges in that case:

• One count of fraudulent schemes and artifices
• One count of forgery
• One count of tampering with physical evidence
• Four counts of perjury

When Owens was indicted in that case, Echard said it lifted a “weight of two years” from his shoulders.

“Justice is finally served,” the former Bachelor contestant said in a video posted to his Instagram page on May 6. “I am absolutely amped to share this news with you all.”

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