Dances With Wolves actor Nathan Chasing Horse is headed to prison after using his influence as a spiritual leader to sexually abuse Indigenous women and girls.
Chasing Horse was sentenced April 27 to 37 years to life in prison after he was convicted in January of 13 felonies, including sexual assault with a minor, possession of visual representation depicting sexual conduct of a child and other related offenses, according to a statement from the Clark County District Attorney’s Office.
What Were the Allegations Against Nathan Chasing Horse?
Prosecutors said Chasing Horse used his position as a self-described spiritual leader to get close to his victims and gain their trust.
Corena Leone-LaCroix—who had chosen to come forward publicly—told the court during the sentencing that she was just 14 when she was sexually assaulted by the actor.
“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,” she said, according to The Associated Press. “The life that little girl could have lived has been taken from me forever.”
According to Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci, Chasing Horse allegedly told the teen the spirits wanted her to give up her virginity to save her mother from cancer. After the sexual assault, prosecutors said he told her that if she revealed what happened, her mother would die, the news outlet reported.
Siera Begaye also described the toll the abuse took on her life.
"He took away my sense of safety, even within my own mind,” she shared at the sentencing, according to USA Today. “I believe I didn't have privacy in my own thoughts. Living with that kind of psychological control has had lasting effects on my ability to trust others and to fully express myself.”
Nathan Chasing Horse Maintains His InnocenceDespite the conviction, Chasing Horse has continued to proclaim his innocence, telling the court April 27, “I did not do these things. This is a miscarriage of justice.”
While handing down the sentence, Judge Jessica Peterson admonished Chasing Horse.
“You preyed on these women’s trusts and their spirituality,” she told him according to the Associated Press, “and you manipulated them for your own personal gratification.”
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During the 11-day trial in January, jurors heard testimony from victims Chasing Horse met as young girls, who he later either sexually assaulted as minors or adults, prosecutors said.
“For decades, victims of Nathan Chasing Horse came forward and they were ignored,” Chief Deputy District Attorney William Rowles remarked after the verdict. “I hope this verdict gives them some peace.”
After serving his time in prison, Chasing Horse will be required to register as a sex offender under Nevada law.
“This outcome reflects the strength of the victims who came forward, the tireless work of law enforcement, and all others involved,” Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said. “My office remains committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community.”
When Was Nathan Chasing Horse Arrested?
Chasing Horse was arrested in January 2023 at his Las Vegas house, Oxygen.com previously reported, after multiple victims came forward to report the abuse.
The 49-year-old is also still facing other pending charges in Canada, per The Associated Press.
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Chasing Horse first gained notoriety after appearing in the Oscar-winning movie Dances With Wolves as Smiles a Lot, a member of the Sioux tribe.
After the movie, he traveled across Indian Country to attend powwows and perform healing ceremonies as a Lakota medicine man, Variety reported.
He also appeared in the 2005 mini-series Into the West and 2007 television movie Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.
