A Nevada jury delivers a guilty verdict against Dances With Wolves actor Nathan Chasing Horse for sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls, marking a significant moment in addressing violence within Native communities.
Verdict and Charges
On Friday, a Las Vegas jury convicts Nathan Chasing Horse, 49, on 13 of 21 counts of sexual assault. The convictions primarily involve a victim who was 14 years old when the abuse started. The jury acquits him on several charges connected to an older victim identified as a wife. Chasing Horse now faces a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for March 11.
Prosecutors argue that Chasing Horse abused his position as a Lakota medicine man to target vulnerable Indigenous women and girls. This outcome follows his arrest in 2023 and subsequent indictment, after prolonged efforts to bring him to justice.
As the verdicts are announced, Chasing Horse stays silent in the courtroom. Outside, victims and their supporters share embraces in the hallway, many wearing yellow ribbons as symbols of solidarity.
Trial Proceedings and Testimonies
The three-week trial features testimonies from three women who accuse Chasing Horse of sexual assault, including incidents involving minors. Jurors find him guilty on charges related to each of the three accusers.
In closing arguments, Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci describes how Chasing Horse built a network of abuse over nearly two decades, ensnaring multiple victims. Defense attorney Craig Mueller counters that no concrete evidence, such as eyewitness accounts, supports the claims. He challenges the credibility of the primary accuser, labeling her a “scorned woman.” Prosecutors respond that sexual assault cases often lack witnesses and occur in private settings.
The lead accuser recounts that in 2012, at age 14, Chasing Horse convinced her that spiritual forces required her to surrender her virginity to cure her mother’s cancer diagnosis. He then assaulted her and warned that revealing the incident would cause her mother’s death, according to details presented in opening statements.
Reactions and Broader Context
Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney William Rowles expresses gratitude to the accusers for their courage in testifying. “I just hope that the people who came forward over the years and made complaints against Nathan Chasing Horse can find some peace in this,” he states.
Mueller announces plans to file a motion for a new trial. He voices confusion and disappointment with the jury’s decision, citing “meaningful doubts about the sincerity of the accusations.”
Chasing Horse gained prominence after his role in the 1990 Oscar-winning film Dances With Wolves, one of the era’s notable productions featuring Native American actors. Following the movie, he toured North America, conducting healing ceremonies. This trial unfolds amid heightened law enforcement focus on the ongoing crisis of violence against Native women in recent years.
