Justice Served: Nathan Chasing Horse Found Guilty of Sexual Assault on Indigenous Women and Girls
A Nevada jury found Nathan Chasing Horse, known for his role in "Dances With Wolves," guilty of sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls after a trial in Las Vegas. Chasing Horse was convicted on 13 of the 21 charges he faced, with most related to assaults on a victim who was 14 years old when the abuse began.
While acquitted on some sexual assault charges involving the same victim when she was older, Chasing Horse faces a minimum of 25 years in prison and is set to be sentenced on March 11. Prosecutors alleged that he exploited his reputation as a Lakota medicine man to prey on Indigenous women and girls, using cultural traditions and spiritual beliefs to manipulate them.
The verdict marked the end of a long effort to hold Chasing Horse accountable since his arrest and indictment in 2023, causing shock in the community. During the trial, three women testified that Chasing Horse sexually assaulted them, including when they were underage. The jury returned guilty verdicts on charges related to all three accusers.
Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci described how Chasing Horse manipulated vulnerable women for nearly two decades, with the main accuser allegedly coerced into sexual acts under the guise of spiritual demands to save her mother from cancer. Defense attorney Craig Mueller challenged the credibility of the accuser, claiming lack of physical evidence and eyewitness testimony.
As the verdict was announced, Chasing Horse remained silent in the courtroom while victims and supporters outside reacted emotionally. Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney William Rowles emphasized that the verdict was a victory for the women who came forward, sending a message against exploitation and abuse.
Chasing Horse, originally from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, gained fame for his role in "Dances With Wolves." The trial occurred amid heightened awareness of violence against Native women, an issue often underreported and under-prosecuted. Chasing Horse also faces sex crime charges in other states and in Canada, with British Columbia prosecutors awaiting the outcome of his U.S. legal proceedings before deciding on their next steps.