Laura Owens Fraud Case

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SUMMARY

The trial for Laura Owens, facing 14 felony counts including fraud and perjury, was continued by 90 days on July 25, 2026, in Arizona, with plea negotiations underway. As of July 25, 2026: Owens' criminal case is in plea negotiations, with a settlement conference scheduled for late August 2026 and trial assignment moved to late October 2026. Owens has waived her speedy trial rights and was granted indigency status for a digital forensics expert, while her GoFundMe account for legal defense is under investigation for potential fraud. A family court judge declared 'non-paternity' on June 18, 2026, stating Owens knowingly presented a false claim and admitted to altering and fabricating evidence.

Timeline

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Timeline of developments

July 2026 8 developments

  1. Laura Owens Fraud Case: Trial Continued Amid Plea Agreement Negotiations

    The trial for Laura Owens has been continued by 90 days, with upcoming hearings including a settlement conference and a Final Trial Management Conference. The defense cited the need for more time to finalize a plea agreement, hire a digital forensics expert, and review discovery.

  2. Laura Owens Criminal Case Nears Plea Agreement, Trial Dates Shifted

    Laura Owens' criminal case is in plea negotiations, with a settlement conference scheduled for late August 2026 and trial assignment moved to late October 2026. Owens has waived her speedy trial rights and was granted indigency status for a digital forensics expert.

  3. Laura Owens Seeks State Funding for Defense Experts Amidst Felony Charges

    Laura Owens' defense attorney filed a motion for indigency on July 11, 2026, requesting state funding for defense experts. Owens argues she is unemployed and relies on her parents, who are in federal bankruptcy proceedings, to support her defense against 14 felony counts. The motion cites precedent for defendants with private counsel to receive state-funded experts if they lack the budget.

  4. Laura Owens Case: Pretrial Conference Set, Home Auction Postponed

    A pretrial management conference for Laura Owens' criminal case is scheduled for July 22, 2026. The foreclosure auction on her home has been postponed to late September.

  5. Calls to Remove Laura Owens' TEDx Talk Amid Fraud Investigation

    Calls are mounting for the removal of Laura Owens' 2021 TEDx talk due to her ongoing criminal case involving allegations of fraud, perjury, and evidence tampering. A judge previously ruled Owens was not pregnant with Clayton Echard's child and referred the matter for criminal investigation.

  6. Laura Owens GoFundMe Under Fraud Review Amidst Felony Charges

    Laura Owens' GoFundMe account, reportedly used for her legal defense, is now under investigation for potential fraudulent activity. Owens faces felony charges including fraud, forgery, and perjury stemming from a paternity lawsuit. She maintains her innocence.

  7. Laura Owens case: Non-paternity declared, trial dates set for July 2026

    A family court judge declared 'non-paternity' on June 18, 2026, stating Laura Owens knowingly presented a false claim and admitted to altering and fabricating evidence. The final trial management conference is scheduled for July 22, 2026, with trial assignment for July 29, 2026.

  8. Laura Owens Granted Travel Permission; Settlement Conference Set for August 28

    Laura Owens was granted permission to travel by the court, despite objections, and a settlement conference is now scheduled for August 28, 2026. A witness stated that Bay Area radio icon Ronn Owens warned about his daughter years before the pregnancy fraud case, suggesting her parents may have culpability in supporting her alleged lies.

June 2026 3 developments

  1. Laura Owens attends settlement conference, plea deadline extended

    Laura Owens attended a settlement conference on June 26, 2026, where sentencing guidelines for Class 2 felonies were discussed, with potential sentences ranging from 3 to 12.5 years. Her attorney requested more time to review discovery, leading to an extension of the plea deal deadline. The next hearing is scheduled for June 29, 2026.

May 2026 6 developments

  1. Laura Owens Case Management Conference Leads to Settlement Conference, Potential Plea Change

    Laura Owens' case management conference on May 20, 2026, resulted in a settlement conference being scheduled for June 29, 2026, with a potential change of plea. Additionally, her bankruptcy case was dismissed with prejudice on May 14, 2026, preventing her from filing for bankruptcy for one year.

  2. Laura Owens' trial postponed to July 29, bankruptcy case dismissed

    Laura Owens' trial for fraud, forgery, and perjury charges has been postponed to July 29, 2026. Her bankruptcy case was dismissed on May 14, 2026, imposing a one-year restriction on filing for bankruptcy.

  3. Laura Owens accused of faking medical emergency to skip court

    Laura Owens is accused of misrepresenting her health status to avoid court appearances, allegedly participating in a horse jumping competition while claiming a life-threatening condition. These claims surface as Owens faces multiple felony charges in Arizona, including fraud and perjury, related to a paternity lawsuit against Clayton Echard.

April 2026 5 developments

  1. Attorney David S. Gingras denies knowingly offering false testimony in disciplinary proceedings

    Laura Owens' attorney, David S. Gingras, filed an affidavit on April 14, 2026, as part of his own disciplinary proceedings, denying knowingly offering false testimony and claiming he attempted to verify Owens' statements. The proceedings address allegations of violating court orders, witness intimidation, and presenting false evidence.

  2. Laura Owens's bankruptcy case dismissed with prejudice, barring refiling for one year

    A stipulated motion to dismiss Laura Owens's bankruptcy case was filed with prejudice on April 15, 2026, barring her from filing for bankruptcy for one year. Owens also had a hearing on April 9, 2026, where she was granted permission for out-of-state travel and a plea deadline is approaching at the end of April.

  3. Arizona Supreme Court hears arguments on reinstating child abuse charges against Laura Owens

    The Arizona Supreme Court heard arguments on April 15, 2026, concerning the child abuse case against Laura Owens, focusing on whether to reinstate charges previously dismissed by a lower court. The case involves allegations of abuse against her adopted daughter, who later died.

  4. Laura Owens in Plea Deal Discussions, Preliminary Hearing Set

    Laura Owens' attorney confirmed a plea deal had been extended, with an expiration date of April 24, 2026. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 26, 2026, following a case management conference on April 9, 2026. Clayton Echard expressed confidence that any plea deal would uphold accountability and ensure justice.

  5. Laura Owens granted out-of-state travel, plea deadline set for April

    Laura Owens appeared in court on April 9, 2026, and was granted permission to travel out of state for two weeks in April and May. A plea deadline is set for the end of April, with a further case management conference scheduled for May 20.

February 2026 3 developments

  1. Laura Owens receives plea deal offer with April 2026 expiration

    Laura Owens was offered a plea deal in her criminal case with an expiration date of April 24, 2026. A comprehensive pretrial conference was held on February 25, 2026, setting future court dates including a Complex Case Management Conference on April 9, 2026, and a Final Trial Management Conference on July 22, 2026.

  2. Laura Owens Considers Plea Deal in Alleged Fake Pregnancy Case Against Clayton Echard

    Laura Owens may opt for a plea deal in the alleged fake pregnancy case against ex-'Bachelor' Clayton Echard, with a hearing scheduled for April 9, 2026, and her trial now set for July 29, 2026. Investigators allege Owens manipulated an ultrasound image, fabricated a pregnancy video, and lied under oath as part of a scheme to obtain child support.

December 2025 1 developments

  1. Laura Owens pleads not guilty to all charges in Arizona criminal case

    Laura Owens appeared for an arraignment hearing on December 2, 2025, for her criminal case, State of Arizona v Laura Michelle Owens, and pleaded not guilty to all charges. Her original case was dismissed and re-charged under a new case number due to a superseding indictment. On November 18, 2025, Owens appeared in court, her attorney's motion to withdraw was granted, and the court appointed new counsel.

November 2025 2 developments

  1. Laura Owens indicted a second time for false pregnancy claims and document forgery

    Laura Owens has been indicted a second time by a grand jury in Maricopa County, Arizona. The new charges are related to a false claim of pregnancy involving a second victim, with investigators finding evidence that she falsified documents. Owens is accused of forging documents and perjuring herself in a scheme to get two men to pay child support.

  2. Laura Owens indicted on additional felony charges, including those related to a second victim

    Laura Owens has been indicted on additional felony charges, including those related to a second victim. A superseding indictment filed on November 6, 2025, reissued initial charges and added seven more. These new charges include Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, Forgery, Perjury, Taking the Identity of Another, and Theft by Extortion.

May 2025 4 developments

  1. Laura Owens Pleads Not Guilty to Fraud Charges

    Laura Owens pleaded not guilty to fraud charges on May 29, 2025. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for July 11, 2025, with the trial set to begin on October 23, 2025.

  2. Laura Owens Pleads Not Guilty to Fraud Charges in Alleged Fake Pregnancy Case

    Laura Owens pleaded not guilty on May 29, 2025, to fraud charges for allegedly lying about being pregnant with a former "The Bachelor" star's child. Investigators believe she fabricated evidence between May 2023 and June 2024. Previously, on June 18, 2024, a judge ruled Owens could not prove the pregnancy and had filed the case in bad faith, finding she provided false testimony.

  3. Laura Owens Indicted on Seven Felony Counts in Alleged Paternity Fraud Scheme

    Laura Owens has been indicted on seven felony counts, including fraudulent schemes, forgery, perjury, and tampering with physical evidence. These charges are related to an alleged paternity fraud scheme where she claimed former 'The Bachelor' star Clayton Echard was the father of her twins, fabricating evidence between May 2023 and June 2024.

  4. Laura Owens indicted on felony charges for alleged paternity scheme, faking pregnancy

    Laura Owens, daughter of radio personality Ronn Owens, was indicted on felony charges in Arizona for an alleged paternity scheme, including faking a pregnancy of twins and claiming 'The Bachelor' star Clayton Echard was the father. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office began investigating Owens in July 2024 after she made inconsistent statements during a paternity hearing.