‘Dances With Wolves’ actor convicted for sexually abusing indigenous girls
Nathan Chasing Horse’s main accuser was 14 and a virgin when he sexually assaulted her on the pretext of healing her mother of cancer
A Nevada jury on Friday convicted Dances With Wolves actor Nathan Chasing Horse of sexually assaulting indigenous women and girls in a case that sent shock waves through Indian Country.
The jurors in Las Vegas found Chasing Horse guilty of 13 of the 21 charges he faced. Most of the guilty verdicts centred on Chasing Horse’s conduct with a victim who was 14 years old when he began assaulting her. He was acquitted of some sexual assault charges when the main victim was older and lived with him and his other companions.
Chasing Horse, 49, faces a minimum of 25 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for March 11.
He was also charged with sex crimes in other states as well as Canada. British Columbia prosecutors suspended its case in November 2023 due to Chasing Horse’s case in the US. It is unclear the status of other charges.
Friday’s verdict marked the climax of a years-long effort to prosecute Chasing Horse after he was first arrested and indicted in 2023. Prosecutors said Chasing Horse used his reputation as a Lakota medicine man to prey on indigenous women and girls.
As the verdict was read, Chasing Horse stood quietly. Victims and their supporters cried and hugged in the hallway while wearing yellow ribbons. The main victim declined to comment.