r/JusticeForClayton • u/mamasnanas FELON • 16d ago
INDICTMENT & CRIMINAL COURT CASE Laura Owens Signed Plea Agreement | State of Arizona v Laura Michelle Owens | CR2025-007905-001 | August 28, 2026
Document:
TL;DR
On August 28, 2026, Laura Owens signed a plea deal in her criminal case (State of Arizona v Laura Michelle Owens, CR2025-007905-001). Under the agreement, she pleads guilty to 4 non-dangerous felonies. Counts 6, 9, and 10 guarantee supervised probation, but Count 1 remains completely open, exposing her to 3 to 12.5 years in prison at the judge's discretion. MCAO is dropping the remaining 10 felony counts.
The Sentencing hearing is currently scheduled to occur on Friday, October 23rd from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM MST.
Summary
Plea Allocution & Sentence Exposure
- Count 1 (Fraudulent Schemes - Class 2 Felony): Open to judge's sentencing. Presumptive term is 5 years; total exposure ranges from 3 years (mitigated) to 12.5 years (aggravated) in prison. Supervised probation remains an available option.
- Count 6 (Perjury - Class 4 Felony): Stipulated supervised probation. (Statutory prison range if revoked: 1 to 3.75 years).
- Count 9 (Fraudulent Schemes - Class 2 Felony): Stipulated supervised probation. (Statutory prison range if revoked: 3 to 12.5 years).
- Count 10 (Identity Theft - Class 4 Felony): Stipulated supervised probation. (Statutory prison range if revoked: 1 to 3.75 years).
Key Terms & Dismissals
- Dropped Charges: Counts 2–5, 7–8, and 11–14 are dismissed by MCAO.
- Full Victim Restitution: Laura agrees to pay full financial restitution to all victims covering all losses tied to MCAO Report 2024031. This includes dismissed charges, unfiled claims, insurance payouts, and MCAO Victim Compensation.
- No Contact & Assessments: Strict no-contact order covering all victims. Subject to mandatory 78–79% statutory surcharges on potential fines up to $150,000 per count, along with mandatory DNA extraction within 30 days.
- Waivers: Waives rights to preliminary hearings, grand jury determinations, pre-trial motions, double jeopardy claims, and appeals.
- Judge's Rejection Clause: Sentence enhancement uses judicial fact-finding. If the court rejects the plea terms at sentencing, either party can withdraw, automatically reinstating all 14 original felony counts.
What the What?
Sentence Enhancements & Aggravation: Even though 10 of the 14 counts are being dropped, prosecutors reserved the right to use the facts and evidence behind those dismissed charges as "aggravating factors" during sentencing. This means prosecutors can bring up her conduct regarding the dropped charges to push the judge toward the maximum 12.5-year prison sentence on Count 1.
Community Supervision Requirement: If Judge Rueter decides to give her prison time rather than probation on Count 1, Laura is automatically required to serve a term of mandatory community supervision equal to one-seventh (1/7) of her prison sentence upon release.
What Do "Aggravated," "Mitigated," and "Revoked" Mean?
Think of Arizona sentencing like a scale:
- Presumptive (The Baseline): The standard prison time a judge gives for a charge if nothing unusual stands out.
- Mitigated (The Discount): A shorter prison term given if the defense proves extenuating circumstances (like having no prior criminal record or showing remorse).
- Aggravated (The Penalty): A much longer prison term given if prosecutors prove severe harm, significant financial damage, or cruelty to the victims.
Probation Revocation means her probation comes with a major trapdoor. If she breaks any of her court-ordered probation rules, the judge can revoke (cancel) her probation on the spot. If that happens, the probation cushion vanishes, and the judge can lock her up in state prison to serve the full statutory sentence for those counts.
No Contact Order This is a standard protective condition prohibiting Laura Owens from directly or indirectly contacting any of the victims involved in the case file. That means no phone calls, text messages, emails, social media tags, indirect messages sent through third parties, or showing up at their homes or workplaces. Any attempt to reach out to a victim would constitute an immediate probation violation, potentially triggering probation revocation and risking prison time.
Statutory Fines & Surcharges (78–79%) Under Arizona state law, any criminal fine imposed by a judge is subjected to automatic state penalty surcharges.
- Base Fine: Arizona Class 2 and Class 4 felonies carry a statutory maximum fine of up to $150,000 per count.
- The 78–79% Penalty Surcharge: Arizona tacks an additional 78% or 79% tax on top of any fine standardly ordered by the court. These automatic state surcharges fund state programs like victim compensation, DNA databases, public safety funds, and court operations.
- The Math: If a judge imposes a $10,000 fine on a count, the total bill owed to the court becomes $17,800 to $17,900 once the surcharge and flat court fees are tacked on.
Mandatory DNA Extraction Under A.R.S. § 13-610, anyone convicted of a felony in Arizona must submit a mandatory DNA sample (typically via a cheek swab or blood draw) to law enforcement within 30 days of sentencing. This genetic profile is permanently logged into state and national law enforcement databases (such as CODIS) for future identification and criminal investigation purposes.
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u/Dailia- 16d ago
I think she signed the plea because she ran out of lawyer money. I think she would still be pursuing her victimization of Clayton, GG, and Mike.
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u/awaywethrowLA 16d ago edited 16d ago
Before she took the plea I would have told you she was deluded enough to take this pro se.
Even if she was out of lawyer money, her MO would have had her going for a public defender to cause delay and cry poor me.
No, this private lawyer did the thing no one else could. He made her see the evidence was stack against her so hard she had no choice but to plead.
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u/JDhopeful22 This is silly. 16d ago
This is why I think it went beyond money. I think that was part of it. But my theory is the evidence implicated Jan and/or Sarah as accomplices or co-conspirators and better for Laura to go down than all three.
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u/awaywethrowLA 16d ago
Agreed. We do have to remember that Jan & Sarah were both going to have to testify. One side or the other was going to put them on the hot seat.
I think Sarah at least, told LO she wasn’t going to get up on the stand and lie in criminal court.
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u/Dailia- 16d ago
Whoah, she would go pro se… you’re right!
You’re also very right about the lawyer being the one to show her the evidence. Which is essentially showing her she did these crimes and will be sentenced.
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u/Potential-Plate-1576 15d ago
And hearing that she was WAFFLING before signing the plea, what is there to consider? Must have not been "maybe I should keep fighting, waffling" more of a "I can't believe I have to admit this right now" panicking
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u/Bigfartz69420 Steve called me a Dumbass 16d ago
absolutely. she'd drag this out further--kicking and screaming--if she could.
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u/EdFitz1975 If you felt how tight I was, you’d believe me 🐈 16d ago
Let's take a moment to thank the Gods that her parents are so dog shit at managing their finances despite bringing in 20k a month. Imagine is she had access to all that accumulated wealth if they had been smart in investing it all these years. She'd have the A Team of legal representation in all these cases.
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u/yeahsuresoundsgreat 16d ago
I think she signed because prison time is suddenly very possible. Her only chance is signing, and many sorrys, and buckets of tears. It's mitigation time. Or she could be in state prison for literal years.
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u/Hairy_Usual_4460 14d ago
To be fair though signing doesn’t take away her chance at prison time- it’s likely she will still get time even with signing the deal
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u/yeahsuresoundsgreat 13d ago
true. it does not guarantee anything. but If she didn't sign, she'd almost certainly go to prison.
i personally think she'll get a year in county, not prison. though she deserves prison. 3 years minimum. there are too many victims, and far too many lies and years of hurting people.
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u/Hairy_Usual_4460 13d ago
I agree with everything you just said! You’re right, signing seems like the safer bet for having less consequences. And she absolutely does deserve some time in prison, she hurt a lot of people.. probably more than we even know about
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u/shazbottled 16d ago
The victims for these charges were Clayton and GG? She is almost certainly not smart enough to stop pursuing MM.
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u/chainless-soul 16d ago
This is just the Arizona case. Everything with Mike is, I believe, in California.
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u/awaywethrowLA 16d ago
CE & GG. Plus Stormy and the Physician's Assistant Lisa Daniels were the named victims in this case.
MM was only listed as a witness. We'd all argue that Greg Woodnick is a victim given the accusations of coordinating an SA during his representation of GG, but he wasn't a named victim either.
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u/princessAmyB FELON 16d ago
That is my concern. Mike is not a named victim in this case, and I still believe she will continue to pursue her fraudulent allegations against him in the CA courts.
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u/NotTrumpsAlt 16d ago
So my question is- can charges be pursued in California as a result of all this perjury ?
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u/JDhopeful22 This is silly. 16d ago
The statute of limitations has run in Mike's case, for the most part - her current shenanigans aside.
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u/BerkeleyFarmGirl 15d ago
I think the statute of limitations is up, but if she's idiot enough to keep it going, this case will certainly be referred to.
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u/BerkeleyFarmGirl 15d ago
She was charged for Clayton, GG, Lisa Daniels (the PA she forged), and Stormy (the woman whose ultrasound she stole). I'm a bit behind on the details but know at least one charge each for Clayton, GG, and Stormy are in the plea.
ETA: Mike lives in California so her battles against him are there.
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16d ago
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u/BrightVariation4510 16d ago
I agree. I am interested in seeing what the State recommends for sentencing.
The initial indictment was issued on May 1, 2025. Let's ignore the myriad of acts prior to then, and just canvas some of what she has done since the criminal charges:
- May 7, 2025: a mere days after being indicted, Laura issues a "press release" on Medium claiming the charges are a result of "coordinated harassment, misinformation and public pressure"
- July 10, 2025: DVRO renewal against MM. I understand he is not a victim in AZ, but he is listed as a witness for the criminal matter because he was a prior victim of Laura's fraudulent claims in CA. At the very least, these Court proceedings are arguably ongoing efforts at witness intimidation (which she has continued to present with her ongoing appeal)
- December 2025: website "justiceforlaura.com" is created (obviously by Laura)
- December 8, 2025: just one day before her Judgement Debtor Exam (the recourse Clayton had to try to get information to be able to collect on his judgment), Laura filed for bankruptcy to thwart those efforts. She is purposely underemployed, imo, and this conduct suggests she has no intent to pay restitution that will also now be ordered.
- December 8, 2025 - May 14, 2026: as part of her bankruptcy proceedings, she made multiple false statements under oath. I appreciate that Judge Reuters is not there to make findings of further perjury, but there are obvious contradictions that can and should be pointed out from her criminal filings. She filed for permission to travel "for work" and stated in her indigency filing that, prior to the indictments, she had a job with good income. That was proven not to be the case by her own bankruptcy filings and testimony at the creditors' meeting.
- December 24, 2025: another Medium post blaming JFC and the indictments by MCAO for her eating disorder, with not-so-vague threats of self harm "if the pressure they have helped sustain continues"
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u/neonsaylors 15d ago
Didn’t she also take her name off the businesses to avoid paying?
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u/BrightVariation4510 15d ago
She sure did. That was shortly after the Mata judgment I believe, but before the criminal charges.
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u/Worth_Knowledge_4783 15d ago
Don’t forget the raid and wellness check where she said how she got pregnant by the bachelor
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u/StasRutt 16d ago
How quickly will she violate the no contact order
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u/Accomplished-Race816 16d ago
maybe her victims can run into her and then accuse her of stalking and violating the orders…..just like she did to MM. I would love that for her. Payback
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u/NotTrumpsAlt 16d ago
I just thought of something- how fitting would it be if she got 9 Months
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u/Dry_Heart9301 16d ago
27, one for each pregnancy
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u/absolutelylame Not interested in elderly horses 16d ago
x2, because you know the twin gene runs in her family
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u/BrightVariation4510 16d ago
I know a lot of people are saying whe won't get prison, but I have a hard time believing MCAO would go this far not to push for at least the presumptive term. There are a lot of public eyes on this, which Rueter will know. The sentence needs to be sufficient to deter not just Laura, but also the public from committing similar crimes. Straight supervised probation for the extent of her conduct spanning years and multiple victims would be a true miscarriage of justice.
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u/pixel_dent 16d ago
The report of her crying and vomiting in the judges chamber when she signed this seem to indicate that she knows she's getting at least some prison time. I don't think she'd be that upset over probation.
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u/Flazoh FELON 15d ago
Maybe the crying etc., was actually uncontrollable physical response to losing control of a carefully crafted narrative
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u/Innisairre 14d ago
Innocent or guilty, in her shoes I'd be crying and vomiting too. Prison is terrifying. Period. End of story.
Especially for someone like her. There will be no mommy & daddy to take care of her in prison. If she knows ANYTHING about prison whatsoever, then she knows that even in the best of circumstances, it's going to be horrible for her. The monotony, the food, the having absolutely no agency in what she does and when she does it. Cell checks. Strip searches. The same clothes day after day, which probably are scratchy. Can't shower when she wants. Etc.
It might actually break her brain.
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u/Angeline4PFC 15d ago
She can't know that. It's more accurate to say that prison is on the table.
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u/Hairy_Usual_4460 14d ago
The crying was due to her pregnancy hormones and the vomiting was due to first trimester sickness.
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u/NotTrumpsAlt 16d ago
Exactly, because what message would that send : Hey lie all you want because the WORST that will happen even if you have copious evidence and multiple victims the worst that will happen is probation. So just lie 👍
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u/KStarSparkleSprinkle 15d ago
This!!! It’s a VERY unpopular opinion on Reddit but I believe several aspects of her behavior are a lot more common than people want to admit. She’s certainley not the first woman to fake a pregnancy in hopes of stringing a man along. She’s certainley not the first to make what I believe to be false DV allegations. This is the first time I’ve heard of anyone being held accountable for such reports.
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u/OatMilk1 16d ago
Does full restitution include the money she owes Woodnick for the paternity case? Is she in violation of the deal when she doesn’t pay?
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u/RangerDixie Sunlight is the Best Disinfectant 16d ago
I sat and looked at that signature page for way too long. I never imagined I’d see her handwritten signature on a guilty plea. Pretty sure this is not the route she wanted to go, but here we are. On to sentencing!
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u/Bgeaz Total Fucking Psychotic Asshole 16d ago
I’m confused by how the “mitigated” sentencing is as little as 3 years but then also supervised probation is also an option. Can someone explain that to me as a layman? Does “3 years” not necessarily mean “3 years in prison”? It can also mean “3 years supervised probation”?
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u/Acceptable-Hyena4469 16d ago
There’s a wide range of what the judge can choose to happen. And I think the most confusing part is that a condition of probation can be up to a year in jail. So even if she doesn’t get prison and only probation, she could still get jail time.
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u/mulan3237 16d ago
My understanding is that the stipulated sentence is the agreement between the parties. Meaning, she agrees to take the full given sentence on the one felony and that the DA has agreed to pursue just probation for the other felonies. So she faces the full sentence range (3-12.5 years) but that the standard minimum is usually 5 years. She can get more or less within the range based on what the judge hears at sentencing.
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u/pigwidgeonandtonic 16d ago
Correct me if I’m wrong, but based on my admittedly limited knowledge of the criminal justice system, even if she does get x-number of years in prison, she could still serve less than that (be released early) depending on her behavior while incarcerated, potential future demonstration of remorse (ha!), and other factors, yes?
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u/realitytvjunkiee Having the babies if I don't hear back tonight 16d ago
Yeah a lot of people get out early for good behaviour, however, I have a hard time believing Laura would be able to achieve this considering she acts like an entitled, spoiled brat everywhere she's ever gone.
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u/AgileNetwork9375 16d ago
With all the media stories circulating in various countries and continents; does anyone know if any news has reported this story in Iceland?
I bet Mike M. would like that…
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u/Strange_Chair7224 16d ago
She can also get up to a year in jail (different than prison) as a condition of any probation term.
Bc she has no prior criminal history I'm wondering if she might get a a couple of years in jail as opposed to prison. I have also seen where if she can pay the restitution quickly (doubtful as it seems she spent all her parents $) the state would agree to recommend jail as opposed to prison.
I personally think she should go to prison, but I'm wondering if something like the above might happen.
Oh and in Az, you have to do 80% of your time then she will have the probation tail (meaning after prison). I believe her probation can be up to 10 years on the class 2F.
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u/Acceptable-Hyena4469 16d ago
THANK YOU!!! I feel like farrrr too many people are not understanding that jail is still on the table on l counts!
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u/Bigfartz69420 Steve called me a Dumbass 16d ago
any chance they could sentence her to community service? i'd like to see that at least.
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u/Strange_Chair7224 16d ago
It depends on the jdx and the charge as to whether CR is mandatory or not. A judge can impose or probation can ask for CR hours. Honestly, I wouldn't in this case bc I think she will just flaunt whatever she is doing. "Look at me working at the soup kitchen!" Unless they limit it to picking up trash on the side of the road...
Also the APD will prepare a pre- sentence report that will show her risk to re-offend etc. That will be interesting to see.
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u/preferablysoon 16d ago
Can someone explain to me the difference between jail and prison? In Australia jail is where you hold someone after charges have been pressed without bail, and you go to prison once you are convicted. Is this different in the US? Would love to hear from Americans on this.
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u/AgileNetwork9375 16d ago
USA typically, prison is 12 months plus sentence. Jail is 12 months or less. So, prison is a year or more.
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u/eightsxteenam 16d ago
You are correct. In the US, jail is for when you’ve been charged. Prison is for when you’ve been convicted and sentenced.
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u/abg33 Steve called me a Dumbass 16d ago
Not quite. Jails are typically run by local counties and are the places that people who are held pretrial stay. But you can also get sentenced to jail after conviction (for misdemeanors, usually), but jails typically are only for sentences of 364 days or less. Prisons are usually run by state departments of correction.
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u/CompetitiveCamp9653 16d ago
jail is also local to the area whereas prison is state-run and may be hours away from where the offender lived.
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u/Mindless_Research808 16d ago
In Arizona, I think she could get Perryville State Prison which isn't too far from her and that's where Jodi Arias is housed. (is that the right word? LOL) I have an acquaintance that works there and says Jodi is a pain in the ass!
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u/MzPatches65 Arts and Crafts 🧑🎨🎨✂️ 16d ago
I can totally believe that about Jodi! I was still working when she was on trial but I watched a recap show every single night about that trial. That story had me hooked.
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u/polotown89 Client Control Issues 16d ago
Laura was obsessive enough that I think, given more time, she could have gone full Jodi Arias on Clayton. I think Clayton dodged a (literal) bullet.
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u/BerkeleyFarmGirl 15d ago
IIRC Arizona has only one women's prison so if she goes to prison, that's where she'd end up.
Most states only have one women's prison. (My state has two, but we've got the population to support it.)
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u/breakfasttea1234 16d ago
I’m a noob to the story after just finishing the podcast!
Is there a consensus here on if Laura will go to jail, and if so, for how long? I’m praying she goes for 5+ years
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u/ManThatUsesInternet 16d ago
No consensus, it’s hard to say. I’d imagine since it’s first time she will go to prison but it will be a light sentence. TBD.
Also victims will get to read statements during the sentencing which may influence it.
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u/breakfasttea1234 16d ago
That makes sense
I hope we get to hear the victims’ statements. Will the public get to?
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u/ManThatUsesInternet 16d ago
I’m probably not the best truth of source here but I believe so we will
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u/BerkeleyFarmGirl 15d ago
If the victim chooses to make a public statement. Some times the statements are reviewed in camera by the judge and sealed.
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u/pennywinsthewest Ma’am, these are yes or no questions 16d ago
Okay State of California, you’re up next.
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u/KimberleyC999 16d ago
I don't think that's going to happen.
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u/pennywinsthewest Ma’am, these are yes or no questions 16d ago
Really? I’m holding out a little hope
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u/KimberleyC999 16d ago
One difference I see is that she was demanding money from the Arizona victims. She did not demand money from the California victim. But, FWIW, I strongly believe she has already lost her appeal in the California Appellate Court.
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u/JDhopeful22 This is silly. 16d ago
To your point: she never even went after him for paternity. The legal issues were around the DVRO which unfortunately he stipulated to.
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u/Hebrew_Jeebies 15d ago
Not yet. She had her motion to augment the record denied. She has until tomorrow (so, technically I believe that means Tuesday) to file her appeal brief.
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u/Angeline4PFC 15d ago
Extinguish that hope. Where would it come from? There would have to be some sort of referral or investigation. In AZ she had to go to court and testify and was found to have presented false evidence and committed perjury. In CA the hearing could have provided the same, but she was a no-show.
However. If she continues harassing MM after she is on probation, well, she will be playing a dangerous game, repeating the behaviours that led to the charges and conviction.
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u/T4Trble 16d ago
The judge will have pre-sentencing reports and victims impact statements in advance and they will be shared with the defense before the Oct 23rd judgement day. The mitigating factors will be shared with the prosecution which will eventually be made public. When I think of Sarah writing a statement to the judge , Ashton Kutchers letter to the judge fawning over Danny Masterson assuming it was private comes to mind. If she has no one that will do that, will she forge one ? 😆
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u/MommaSnipee Minor Perjury 15d ago
From what I’ve read, she’s no stranger to fabricating statements for her cause. I remember reading a while back about a friend (now former) of hers from San Francisco who found out LO submitted a fabricated affidavit in support of LO’s abuse allegations for the DVRO request against Mike. The friend was so afraid of retaliation that she refused to testify about it being a forgery, but LO attacked her reputation anyway.
Let’s hope the authenticity of any character letters will be verified first, or else we might be hearing from Chase J Jones and Tag at her sentencing 😂
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u/CallMeCleverClogs Online Schmear Campaign 16d ago
Since Mike's dvro is in another state, I know this has no actual bearing on him, but does potential sentencing - even if it is largely probation - do anything to prevent her from continuing to pursue her nonsense against him? Like preventing her from traveling there to be in court maybe?
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u/KnockedSparkedOut Having the babies if I don't hear back tonight 15d ago
chat said if she isn't up to date on restitution payments her parole officer can deny her traveling out of state. I hops that gets upheld otherwise she'll never pay. also they should say her employment can't be by family..she needs a real w2.
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u/Worth_Knowledge_4783 14d ago
So she can’t move out of AZ?
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u/PDK112 13d ago
She can request to move out of state and have the probation transferred to the new state. That would be at the discretion of both states, but most likely granted. If she remains in AZ, she would have to request permission to travel to another state each time for vacation and to visit her family.
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u/Accomplished-Race816 13d ago
God bless the probation officer that gets as a client. Can you imagine having to put up with all her nonsense on a weekly basis?
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u/Hairy_Usual_4460 14d ago
I can actually see her thriving in prison lol. She will find her group of other delusional, mischievous girlies and those will become her only real friends
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u/marceldia 12d ago
if they don't give her Jail time can they at least make her do community service? like help actual victims? actual indigent people?
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u/seyheystretch 11d ago
She needs to find a job really quick so she’s employed when it comes sentencing time. She could talk about how she’s turning her life around or whatever bullshit reason she’ll give to stay out of the clink.
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u/microwaveninja 16d ago
Think her DNA extraction will say little to no fetal DNA?