Nathan Chasing Horse, known for his role in the film 'Dances With Wolves,' has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls across the United States over a period spanning nearly two decades. The sentence was delivered by Judge Jessica Peterson in a Nevada court on Monday, following a jury conviction on 13 charges earlier this year.
Victim Impact Statements
During the sentencing hearing, several accusers and their families delivered emotional victim impact statements, describing the lasting trauma caused by Chasing Horse's actions. Corena Leone-LaCroix, who was 14 years old when she was assaulted, stated, 'There is no way to get back the youth, the childhood loss, my first time, my first kiss, the graduation I never got to have. The life that little girl could have lived has been taken from me forever.'
Chasing Horse, now 49, has maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings. Addressing the court on Monday, he claimed, 'This is a miscarriage of justice.' However, Judge Peterson was unmoved by his denial, noting the overwhelming evidence presented during the trial. She remarked, 'You preyed on these women's trusts and their spirituality, and you manipulated them for your own personal gratification.'
Background and Exploitation
Chasing Horse, who played the young Sioux tribe member Smiles a Lot in Kevin Costner's Oscar-winning film, later traveled across Indian Country attending powwows and performing healing ceremonies. Prosecutors argued that he used his reputation as a Lakota medicine man to exploit Indigenous women and girls. Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci told the jury that Chasing Horse 'spun a web of abuse' that ensnared many victims.
The trial heard testimony from three women who accused Chasing Horse of sexual assault. The jury returned guilty verdicts on several charges while acquitting him on others. Chasing Horse will be eligible for parole after serving 37 years.
Pending Charges in Canada
Chasing Horse's arrest in 2023 prompted additional charges from law enforcement in other states and Canada. The British Columbia Prosecution Service charged him with sexual assault in February 2023 for an alleged incident in September 2018. That case was paused in November 2023 due to the U.S. charges but resumed the following year. After all appeals are exhausted, British Columbia prosecutors will assess next steps, according to Damienne Darby, communications counsel for the service.
Additionally, a warrant remains outstanding in Alberta, as confirmed by the Tsuut'ina Nation Police Service. The service stated it is in contact with the Alberta Crown Prosecutors Office regarding the warrant.
Chasing Horse was born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Sicangu Sioux, one of the seven tribes of the Lakota nation. His sentencing marks a significant step in holding him accountable for crimes that exploited his position of trust within Indigenous communities.
