AUSTIN — A Stewartville man who claimed he could cure people by using laser beams from satellites was sentenced Friday to one year supervised probation in lieu of one year in jail.

Ronald Charles Renken, 67, was convicted on one count of gross misdemeanor theft by swindle. Two felony-level theft by swindle charges were dismissed in June as part of a plea agreement.

According to the Mower County District Court complaint, Renken talked a couple into believing that one of them, who is diabetic, could be cured of his illness through a satellite using laser beams that would go through his body.

Renken told the couple he works with doctors in Germany who use the beams to eliminate toxins in the body and bring polarities of energy channels back in line. He also claimed radio frequencies would bounce off the diabetic man’s body and be sent back to the doctors in Germany, who would adjust the frequencies to heal him.

The court complaint states Renken called the couple on March 2 and said he had spoken to the doctor in Germany, who said the man had been cured of his diabetes and other illnesses. Renken reportedly told the man he could stop taking his medications, especially the ones for diabetes, since he had been cured.

The couple told police Renken then used the beams to scan the woman for illnesses and found she had “cancer all over her body” and several blocked arteries that would cause a heart attack if not taken care of immediately.

Since the couple had paid Renken $2,316 for the man’s treatment, Renken offered to cure the woman for a discounted price of $1,175. The court complaint states the couple did not pay Renken the $1,175.

The couple apparently became suspicious when they told their daughter the man was cured of diabetes and their daughter said she had never heard of satellites in outer space using lasers to cure people.

According to court documents, the couple also paid Renken $4,150 in February 2010 because he said a beam could be sent from a satellite to their water well to eliminate lead and iron from the water.

Renken has been ordered to pay $8,025 in restitution to the victims.