Dances with Wolves actor Nathan Chasing Horse found guilty of sexual assault
A Nevada jury on Friday convicted “Dances With Wolves” actor Nathan Chasing Horse of sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls, delivering a verdict that reverberated across Indian Country.
Chasing Horse, 49, was found guilty on 13 of the 21 charges he faced. Most convictions involved a victim who was 14 when the abuse began, while he was acquitted of some charges connected to an older victim who lived with him and others. He faces a minimum of 25 years in prison, with sentencing set for March 11.
The actor also faces sexual assault charges in other U.S. states and Canada. British Columbia prosecutors said Friday that they will review their next steps after Chasing Horse completes sentencing and any appeals in the U.S.
Chasing Horse was first arrested and indicted in 2023. Prosecutors said he used his status as a Lakota medicine man to prey on Indigenous women and girls over nearly two decades. Victims and their supporters wore yellow ribbons and embraced in the courthouse hallways as the verdict was read, while the main victim declined to comment.
Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney William Rowles praised the courage of the women who testified. “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 said.
Defense attorney Craig Mueller said he will seek a new trial, expressing disappointment in the jury’s decision and raising questions about the credibility of the accusations.
Chasing Horse, born on South Dakota’s Rosebud Reservation and a member of the Sicangu Sioux tribe, gained fame for his role as Smiles a Lot in Kevin Costner’s Oscar-winning 1990 film, “Dances With Wolves.” The trial unfolded amid growing awareness of the epidemic of violence against Native women.
During the 11-day trial, jurors heard testimony from three women, some underage at the time of the assaults. Prosecutors described how Chasing Horse allegedly manipulated spiritual authority to coerce the main victim, then 14, telling her she needed to give up her virginity to save her sick mother. The abuse reportedly continued for years.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson emphasized the significance of the verdict: “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.”
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