Nathan Chasing Horse Found Guilty of Sexual Assault Charges in Las Vegas
A Nevada jury delivered a guilty verdict on Friday against actor Nathan Chasing Horse, known for his role in the film "Dances With Wolves," convicting him of sexually assaulting a minor. The trial, held in Las Vegas, saw jurors find Chasing Horse guilty on multiple counts of sexual assault, while acquitting him on other related charges.
Yearslong Prosecution Reaches Climax
The verdict marks the culmination of a protracted legal battle that began with Chasing Horse's arrest and indictment in 2023. This case has reverberated through Indigenous communities, drawing attention to broader issues of violence against Native women. As the verdict was read in court, Chasing Horse stood quietly, while victims and their supporters, adorned with yellow ribbons, embraced and wept in the hallway outside.
Allegations of Abuse Spanning Decades
Prosecutors argued that Chasing Horse exploited his reputation as a Lakota medicine man to prey on Indigenous women and girls over nearly two decades. Clark County Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci described this as a "web of abuse" that ensnared numerous victims. Most of the guilty verdicts centered on his conduct with a victim who was just 14 years old when the assaults began.
During the three-week trial, jurors heard testimony from three women who alleged sexual assault by Chasing Horse, some of whom were underage at the time. In opening statements, Pucci detailed a disturbing account where the main accuser, then 14 in 2012, was allegedly told by Chasing Horse that spirits demanded she give up her virginity to save her mother from cancer. He then sexually assaulted her and threatened that if she disclosed the abuse, her mother would die.
Defense Arguments and Trial Context
Chasing Horse had pleaded not guilty to all 21 charges, with his defense attorneys, including Craig Mueller, asserting he was falsely accused. Mueller challenged the credibility of the main accuser, labeling her a "scorned woman" and arguing there was no concrete evidence, such as eyewitnesses, to support the allegations. Prosecutors countered that sexual assault cases often lack eyewitnesses, typically occurring in private settings.
This trial unfolded against a backdrop of increased awareness and response by authorities to what has been described as an epidemic of violence against Native women in recent years. Chasing Horse gained prominence after appearing in the Oscar-winning film "Dances With Wolves" in 1990, which featured Native American actors prominently. Following the film's success, he traveled across North America, performing healing ceremonies.
The conviction underscores the serious nature of the charges and the judicial process in addressing such crimes, particularly within vulnerable communities.
