LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nathan Chasing Horse has received a life sentence for sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls.
The actor, known for his role in “Dances With Wolves,” was sentenced by a Nevada judge on Monday. A jury had previously convicted him of 13 charges, mostly pertaining to sexual assault. He faced accusations from three women, including one who was 14 years old when the assaults began. Some charges resulted in an acquittal.
Victims and their families conveyed to Judge Jessica Peterson their ongoing trauma and struggles with faith, due to Chasing Horse’s abuse of his spiritual authority.
Chasing Horse, dressed in a navy blue Clark County Detention Center uniform, remained stoic as victims shared their statements. He maintained his innocence.
“This is a miscarriage of justice,” he stated to the judge on Monday.
Other charges in Canada are still pending
The sentencing concludes a prolonged legal pursuit against Chasing Horse, who was first arrested and indicted in 2023. His arrest had significant repercussions within Indian Country, prompting further criminal charges in other states and Canada, which are still unresolved.
The British Columbia Prosecution Service reported that Chasing Horse was charged with sexual assault in February 2023, with the alleged incident occurring in September 2018 near Keremeos, a village approximately four hours east of Vancouver. In November 2023, proceedings paused due to his U.S. charges but resumed the following year.
British Columbia prosecutors will determine the next steps after all of Chasing Horse’s appeals are completed, according to Damienne Darby, communications counsel for the British Columbia Prosecution Service, in an email.
In Alberta, a warrant for Chasing Horse remains outstanding, as noted by the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service. The service is in communication with the Alberta Crown Prosecutors Office regarding the warrant.
January trial focuses on his role as spiritual leader
Chasing Horse hails from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Sicangu Sioux, part of the Lakota nation. After his role as Smiles a Lot in Kevin Costner’s acclaimed film “Dances With Wolves,” he traveled across Indian Country, attending powwows and conducting healing ceremonies.
During his trial, Nevada prosecutors claimed Chasing Horse used his status as a Lakota medicine man to exploit Indigenous women and girls.
Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci informed the jury that over nearly two decades, Chasing Horse “spun a web of abuse” that ensnared numerous women.
The jury heard from three women who testified to being sexually assaulted by Chasing Horse. Guilty verdicts were reached for some charges concerning all three.
Several victims recounted their involvement in his ceremonies or seeking medical assistance from Chasing Horse.
Corena Leone-LaCroix, identified as one of the victims, was 14 in 2012 when Chasing Horse allegedly insisted that spirits demanded she surrender her virginity to save her mother, who had cancer. Pucci stated that he then assaulted her and threatened her mother would die if she disclosed the abuse. The assaults allegedly continued for years. The Associated Press generally does not name sexual assault victims unless they publicly reveal their identity, as Leone-LaCroix has done.
Chasing Horse denied the accusations, and his lawyer challenged the main accuser’s credibility, describing her as a “scorned woman.” His attorney sought a new trial, arguing that a witness was unqualified to discuss grooming and that the statute of limitations had expired. This motion was denied.
Testimonies from victims and their families revealed ongoing struggles with faith due to Chasing Horse’s actions. The victims’ mothers accused him of betraying their trust and abusing sacred customs.
“Even to this day I struggle to regain my faith and spirituality,” said one victim’s mother.
One victim reported complications following an ectopic pregnancy resulting from the assault, requiring surgery.
“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,” a victim declared.
Dr. Crystal Lee, CEO and founder of the organization United Natives, which provides support to sexual abuse victims, expressed hope that the sentencing would bring peace to the victims. Lee emphasized the significance of holding high-profile offenders accountable and believing the victims.
Lee noted that Chasing Horse used his roles as an actor and medicine man to prey on victims, similar to other faith leaders who misuse their positions of trust.
“I think it makes us question who we trust and why we trust,” Lee commented.
Need help? Visit RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.
