'Octomom' Pleads Not Guilty to Welfare Fraud

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Nadya "Octomom" Suleman pleaded not guilty Friday to welfare fraud charges for allegedly failing to report nearly $30,000 in earnings from personal appearances and video residuals when she applied for aid last year.

Suleman, 38, was released on her own recognizance after being arraigned in Los Angeles County Superior Court on three counts of welfare fraud. Deputy District Attorney Bill Clark said after the hearing that the case will go to disposition court, where authorities will try to resolve the case without a trial.

Prosecutors announced Monday that they had charged Suleman with one count of aid by misrepresentation and two counts of perjury by false application for welfare aid. If convicted, the single mother of 14 children could receive a maximum sentence of nearly six years in jail.

Suleman became famous after giving birth to octuplets in 2009. She was widely criticized after the historic birth because she had used in vitro fertilization to become pregnant and was receiving public assistance at the time.

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