'Octomom' pleads no contest to welfare fraud

LOS ANGELES, July 14 (UPI) -- Nadya Suleman, who became known as the "Octomom," was spared prison Monday for failing to report income while collecting California welfare benefits.

Suleman, 39, pleaded no contest in Los Angeles County to a misdemeanor count of welfare fraud. She was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and two years on probation and must also repay benefits she received by not reporting income.

She is reported to have repaid $26,000.

If she had gone to trial and been convicted on all counts, Suleman could have received a significant prison term.

Suleman gave birth to octuplets conceived by in vitro fertilization in 2009. She already had six children also conceived artificially.

The birth made her an international sensation. But her decision to have eight eggs planted simultaneously caused widespread anger.