Dances With Wolves Actor Convicted of Multiple Sexual Assault Charges
A Nevada jury delivered a guilty verdict on Friday against actor Nathan Chasing Horse, known for his role in the Oscar-winning film Dances With Wolves, on charges of sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls. The conviction has sent profound shockwaves through Native American communities, highlighting a case that prosecutors described as involving the exploitation of spiritual authority.
Jury Delivers Guilty Verdicts on Majority of Charges
Jurors in Las Vegas found Chasing Horse guilty of 13 out of the 21 charges he faced. The majority of these convictions centred on his conduct with a primary victim who was just 14 years old when the assaults began. The actor was acquitted of some sexual assault charges relating to periods when the main victim was older and resided with him alongside other companions.
Chasing Horse, aged 49, now faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 25 years. His formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 11, where the final terms of his incarceration will be determined.
Prosecution Details Years of Alleged Abuse
Prosecutors argued during the 11-day trial that Chasing Horse utilised his reputation as a Lakota medicine man to prey upon vulnerable Indigenous women and girls over nearly two decades. Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci characterised this as "a web of abuse" that ensnared multiple victims.
The court heard testimony from three women who alleged sexual assault, some of whom were minors at the time. The jury returned guilty verdicts on charges connected to all three accusers. In one particularly distressing account, prosecutors stated that in 2012, Chasing Horse allegedly told a 14-year-old girl that spirits demanded she surrender her virginity to save her mother, who had been diagnosed with cancer. He then sexually assaulted her and threatened that if she disclosed the abuse, her mother would die. These assaults reportedly continued for years.
Reaction from Legal Teams and Community
As the verdict was read in the Clark County courtroom, Chasing Horse stood quietly while victims and their supporters, many wearing yellow ribbons, wept and embraced in the hallway. The primary victim declined to comment following the proceedings.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, who attended to hear the verdict, stated, "Today's verdict sends a clear message that exploitation and abuse will not be tolerated, regardless of the defendant's public persona or claims of spiritual authority." Chief Deputy District Attorney William Rowles expressed hope that the accusers could find some peace after coming forward.
Defense attorney Craig Mueller indicated plans to file a motion for a new trial, telling reporters he was "confused and disappointed" by the jury's decision. Mueller raised doubts about the accusers' sincerity, referring to the main complainant as a "scorned woman." Prosecutors countered that sexual assault cases seldom have eyewitnesses and often occur in private settings.
Broader Legal Context and Future Proceedings
This verdict culminates a years-long effort to prosecute Chasing Horse, who was first arrested and indicted in 2023. The trial occurs against a backdrop of increased attention to violence against Native American women, which authorities have described as an epidemic in recent years.
Chasing Horse also faces separate sex crime charges in other U.S. states and in Canada. British Columbia prosecutors confirmed on Friday that once sentencing and any appeals are concluded in the United States, they will evaluate the next steps for their own prosecution.
Background of the Defendant
Nathan Chasing Horse was born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Sicangu Sioux, part of the Lakota nation. He gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Smiles a Lot in Kevin Costner's Dances With Wolves, a landmark 1990 film celebrated for its prominent use of Native American actors. His career also included roles in television shows and films such as Dream Keeper, The Broken Chain, and Peace and Dignity.
