Survivors’ testimony sends Chasing Horse to prison for decades

LAS VEGAS — A Nevada judge on Monday sentenced former Dances With Wolves actor Nathan Chasing Horse to 37 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls, ending a case that spanned multiple states and decades.

Chasing Horse, 49, was convicted in January on 13 of 21 felony counts, including multiple charges of sexual assault of a minor. Prosecutors said he used his reputation as a self-described Lakota medicine man to gain the trust of victims and exploit sacred cultural traditions. The jury’s verdict followed an 11 day trial that included testimony from several women who said he abused them as children.

Judge Jessica Peterson ordered the maximum sentence allowed, noting that Chasing Horse continued to deny the allegations despite extensive evidence presented at trial. He will be eligible for parole after serving a minimum of 25 years and will receive credit for the more than 1,100 days he has spent in custody since his 2023 arrest.

During the sentencing hearing, survivors described years of psychological, spiritual, and physical harm. One woman told the court that Chasing Horse manipulated her through ceremonies and threats cloaked in spiritual authority. Prosecutors said he led a cult like following known as “The Circle,” using his influence to isolate victims and coerce sexual acts.

Authorities said the abuse spanned nearly two decades and involved victims in Nevada, South Dakota, Montana, and Canada. His arrest in 2023 prompted law enforcement agencies in other jurisdictions to reopen cases, and additional charges remain pending in Canada and other U.S. states.

Chasing Horse, who portrayed “Smiles a Lot” in the 1990 Oscar-winning film Dances With Wolves, rose to prominence in Native communities by performing healing ceremonies and presenting himself as a spiritual leader. Prosecutors argued that he weaponized that status to prey on vulnerable women and girls.

Calling the case a landmark for Indigenous survivors, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said the sentence “sends a clear message that exploitation and abuse will not be tolerated, regardless of public persona or claims of spiritual authority.”

(Contact Ernestine Anunkasan Hopa at editor@nativesunnews.today)

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