A Nevada court has handed down a life sentence to Nathan Chasing Horse, the actor known for his role in ‘Dances With Wolves,’ following his conviction for sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls.
Judge Jessica Peterson delivered the sentence on Monday after a jury found Chasing Horse guilty on 13 charges, primarily involving sexual assault. Three women came forward as accusers, with one victim being just 14 years old when the abuse started. While convicted on multiple counts, he was found not guilty on certain other charges.
During the sentencing hearing, victims and their relatives shared with Judge Peterson how they continue dealing with lasting trauma from Chasing Horse’s actions and described losing trust in their spiritual beliefs after he misused his authority as a religious leader.
Dressed in his navy blue detention center clothing, Chasing Horse looked straight ahead while victims delivered their impact statements. He maintained his innocence regarding all accusations.
‘This is a miscarriage of justice,’ he stated to the judge during Monday’s proceedings.
This sentencing concludes a multi-year legal battle to bring the former actor to justice, beginning with his arrest and indictment in 2023. His initial detention sent shockwaves throughout Indigenous communities, prompting law enforcement agencies in other states and Canada to file additional criminal charges that remain unresolved.
Canadian authorities in British Columbia filed sexual assault charges against Chasing Horse in February 2023, stemming from an alleged incident in September 2018 near Keremeos, a community located four hours east of Vancouver. The Canadian case was put on hold in November 2023 due to his U.S. legal proceedings but resumed the following year.
According to Damienne Darby, communications counsel for the British Columbia Prosecution Service, Canadian prosecutors will determine their next course of action once Chasing Horse completes all appeals in his U.S. case.
Additionally, Alberta authorities maintain an active warrant for Chasing Horse. The Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service confirmed following his January conviction that they continue coordinating with the Alberta Crown Prosecutors Office regarding the outstanding warrant.
Chasing Horse’s origins trace back to the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Sicangu Sioux, part of the seven-tribe Lakota nation. After gaining recognition for portraying Smiles a Lot, a young Sioux tribal member in Kevin Costner’s Academy Award-winning movie ‘Dances With Wolves,’ Chasing Horse became a fixture at powwows and healing ceremonies throughout Indigenous territories.
Nevada prosecutors argued during the trial that Chasing Horse leveraged his standing as a Lakota medicine man to target and exploit Indigenous women and girls.
Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci informed jurors that Chasing Horse created a ‘web of abuse’ spanning nearly two decades that trapped numerous women.
The jury listened to testimony from three women describing sexual assaults by Chasing Horse. Guilty verdicts were returned on charges connected to all three victims.
Several victims recounted participating in his ceremonial practices or seeking his assistance for medical issues.
One victim, Corena Leone-LaCroix, was 14 in 2012 when Chasing Horse allegedly convinced her that spirits required her to surrender her virginity to save her cancer-stricken mother. He then sexually assaulted her and threatened that revealing the abuse would result in her mother’s death, according to Pucci. The assaults persisted for years, Pucci explained. The Associated Press generally withholds names of alleged sexual assault victims unless they publicly identify themselves, as Leone-LaCroix has done.
Chasing Horse rejected all allegations, while his defense attorney challenged the primary accuser’s reliability, labeling her a ‘scorned woman.’ His legal team requested a new trial, claiming a witness lacked proper qualifications to discuss grooming tactics and that the statute of limitations had run out. The court rejected this request.
Victims and family members testified about struggling with their spiritual beliefs following Chasing Horse’s actions. Mothers of the victims described how Chasing Horse violated their trust and corrupted sacred practices.
‘Even to this day I struggle to regain my faith and spirituality,’ one victim’s mother testified.
Another victim spoke about ongoing medical complications from an ectopic pregnancy resulting from the assault, which required surgical intervention.
‘I am choosing to see this moment as a fresh start. I will rebuild my life, reclaim my voice and continue fighting for the future I deserve,’ one victim declared.
Dr. Crystal Lee, who leads United Natives, an organization supporting sexual abuse victims, expressed hope that the sentencing brings closure to the victims. Lee emphasized that Chasing Horse’s case demonstrates the critical need to hold prominent perpetrators responsible and trust victim accounts.
Chasing Horse exploited both his celebrity status and religious authority to harm victims, similar to other faith leaders who misuse their positions, Lee explained.
‘I think it makes us question who we trust and why we trust,’ Lee observed.
