A Las Vegas jury found the 'Dances With Wolves' actor guilty of 13 of the 21 charges he faced
Credit: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via Getty; Orion Pictures
NEED TO KNOW
- Nathan Chasing Horse was sentenced to 37 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls
- Prosecutors said he used his position as a spiritual leader to gain victims’ trust and carry out abuse
- Authorities said allegations against him date back years and he faces additional charges in other states and Canada
Nathan Chasing Horse was sentenced to 37 years to life in prison after being convicted of multiple charges involving the sexual assault of Indigenous women and girls.
In January, a Las Vegas jury found the Dances With Wolves actor guilty of 13 of the 21 charges he faced, according to the Associated Press. The convictions followed an 11-day trial in which prosecutors presented testimony from multiple victims, the outlet reported.
At his sentencing hearing, which was reviewed by PEOPLE via footage posted by KTNV, Chasing Horse denied the allegations and described the outcome as a “miscarriage of justice.”
Judge Jessica Peterson sentenced Chasing Horse, 49, to 37 years to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum of 25 years, according to KTNV. He received credit for spending 1,184 days in jail since he was arrested in 2023.
In a statement following the verdict, the Clark County District Attorney’s Office said the convictions stemmed from “multiple counts” related to sexual assaults and other offenses involving victims Chasing Horse targeted while “misusing his position as a self-described spiritual leader.”
Credit: KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas/Youtube
“For decades, victims of Nathan Chasing Horse came forward and they were ignored,” Chief Deputy District Attorney William Rowles said. “I hope this verdict gives them some peace.”
“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," Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson added.
Authorities said Chasing Horse had been accused of using his influence within Native American communities, where he was known by some as a “Medicine Man” or “Holy Person,” to gain the trust of victims and carry out abuse.
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The charges Chasing Horse was convicted of in January were 10 counts of sexual assault of a minor under 16; 1 count of open/gross lewdness; 1 count of sexual assault; and 1 count of possession of visual presentation depicting sexual conduct of a child, reports KTNV.
The Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service in Alberta also acknowledged the convictions, calling the outcome “a significant step toward justice for the survivors” and commending those who came forward.
Chasing Horse was taken into custody in 2023 after Las Vegas police executed a search warrant at his home. Authorities said the investigation began after a tip in October 2022, though some allegations dated back years, the Associated Press reported at the time.
He has also faced charges in other states and in Canada, and officials said a warrant remains active in Alberta in connection with a separate case.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
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