Actor Chasing Horse Faces Sentencing for Abuse

Actor Nathan Chasing Horse is scheduled for sentencing on March 18, concluding a case involving the sexual assault of Indigenous women and girls. A Nevada jury convicted him on 13 of the 21 charges he faced, with most related to assaults on a victim who was 14 years old. He faces a minimum of 25 years in prison, though some charges were dismissed.

The legal proceedings followed Chasing Horse's arrest and indictment in 2023. His reputation as a Lakota medicine man was allegedly used to exploit victims. Jurors heard testimony from three women who accused him of sexual assault, with guilty verdicts returned on some charges for each. These assaults were reported to have occurred over nearly two decades.

Chasing Horse also faces charges in British Columbia, Canada, including sexual assault allegations from September 2018. The prosecution service there is assessing next steps after his U.S. appeals are resolved. Additionally, an arrest warrant remains outstanding in Alberta, Canada, with authorities in contact with the Crown Prosecutors Office.

Chasing Horse, born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, gained fame for his role in "Dances With Wolves." He traveled widely, attending powwows and conducting healing ceremonies, where victims reported he preyed upon them. His attorney had sought a new trial, citing issues with a witness and the statute of limitations, but this motion was denied.