Laura Owens’ Mom Claims ‘Proof’ of Pregnancy at Sentencing

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Thank you. [00:00:30] Jan Owens: Thank you. Good morning, Your Honor. Good morning. My name is Jan Owens, and I am Laura Owens' mother. I'm speaking today on behalf of myself and my husband, Laura's father, Ron, who's right next to me. My husband and I have both enjoyed decades-long, award-winning careers in journalism, hosting news and talk shows on ABC and CBS-owned radio stations in San Francisco. I am now 70, and I rely heavily on Laura to help me provide daily care for Ron. As has been mentioned, Laura lives in a casita on our property. Ron is 81 and has had severe mobility issues, having battled Parkinson's disease for 26 years, along with three kinds of cancer, serious heart issues, and numerous other health issues in recent years. Three years ago, we were told that Ron had only six months to a year to live. And while, thankfully, he has outlived that prognosis, a jail sentence for Laura would in reality be a punitive sentence for us as well. It would deprive Ron of the precious, limited time he may have left with his daughter, and it would strip away the vital caregiving support we both desperately need at this time in our lives. After reviewing what's been submitted on her behalf, I urge the court to recognize that Laura is a good, caring person with no prior criminal record, and this is a first-time nonviolent case I pray, your honor, that you recognize that Laura's is a multi-faceted story. Over the past 10 years, it has been absolutely gut-wrenching for us as parents to watch, as she has been the target of unspeakable emotional and physical abuse, as well as relentless cyber harassment and online trauma from a number of sources. Some of those very individuals are in this courtroom today. Laura has already been severely punished. Her character has been destroyed, she's been humiliated, and she's paid a devastating price physically, mentally, and financially. As her parents, it has been incredibly disheartening and absolutely disgusting to see her experiences twisted into a narrative designed purely for the personal benefit of others, people who have sought to gain fame, financial profit, and even entertainment at her expense. Many of the people pushing for a harsh sentence today do so simply to keep this narrative alive, ensuring that they can continue to daunt, torment, and monetize her life for just a little bit longer. They don't care that there is a real human being with a family beyond the bullying. They don't care about context or taking her story out of context, which has been done so badly. And I cannot believe how badly her story has been taken out of context. 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. There is no question about this, and to cast doubt on her stories about whether she was really pregnant or whether she was really abused is just mind-boggling to me that anyone could do that when there is proof. There are at least two and perhaps three or four men in this courtroom today that Laura has had protective orders against. And it's no surprise that they have all pushed publicly for a harsh sentence for her, driven by the hope that such a thing would somehow cast doubt on the legitimacy of the protective orders she secured against them, using this court to vindicate themselves and rewrite the past. Your Honor, Laura has already endured a form of severe daily punishment through this relentless online harassment. And despite the constant provocation, Laura has consciously refrained from giving interviews. She's chosen instead to handle this matter through the proper legal channels. Still, she's paid a profound, agonizing price through the loss of her privacy and the permanent damage to her name and reputation. Your Honor, I trust completely in your ability to look beyond all of this external noise. To look past the sensationalism and to see this case for what it truly is, and to see her as a woman who found herself in circumstances that many women have found themselves in over the years and was trying to figure out what to do going forward. On behalf of Ron, and myself, I ask that you show Laura mercy and sentence her to probation only, granting her this chance to quietly rebuild her life under the supervision of the court. Probation gives the court the oversight and the accountability it requires, while preserving our family's vital caregiving structure and helping to close the curtain on this public spectacle. I thank you very much for your time and your wisdom. And I know my husband has some comments that he'd like to add. Ronny, I don't know if I can... Let me get you a little bit closer here. Here, here, here, here. [00:07:16] Speaker 1: Your Honor, I just want to tell the court that I love my daughter more than I can put into words. She's been there for me through the good times and bad. And she's always trying to think of ways to help me and brighten my day. She cares for me in a way that no one else could. I don't know how much time I've got left, but I beg that you not take her away from me for that or whatever time it might be. I'm not sure either of us could really survive this threat. Thank you. I appreciate that. [00:07:56] Jan Owens: Thank you, Your Honor. [00:07:56] Speaker 1: Thank you.