Spiritual Healer Fined For Fondling

A self-proclaimed Chippewa spiritual healer accused of fondling three women and a teenage girl during American Indian healing ceremonies has been fined $1,310 and given two years of probation.

John S. Sharlow, 63, contended that he had to touch the women to release their power. The women smoked a pipe with Sharlow and one said she felt hypnotized.

Sharlow accepted the fine and probation under a plea bargain in which he was found guilty of fourth-degree sexual assault. Six other charges of sexual assault, two of them felonies, were dropped.

He maintains his innocence but did not want to go to trial, his attorney Trish Areazola said.