Nathan Chasing Horse, best known for his role in Dances With Wolves alongside Kevin Costner, has been sentenced to life in prison.
A Nevada judge handed down the sentence on Monday (April 27) after a jury previously convicted the former actor on 13 charges, most related to the sexual assault of three women.
Chasing Horse, 49, rose to prominence after playing the young Sioux tribe member Smiles a Lot in the Oscar-winning film. He later traveled across Indian Country, attending powwows and performing healing ceremonies.
Sentencing and Victim Impact
During the hearing, victims and their families spoke about the lasting impact of the abuse, describing years of trauma and loss.
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“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,” said Corena Leone-LaCroix, who has spoken publicly about her experience.
Judge Jessica Peterson said she was struck by Chasing Horse’s continued denial of the charges, despite the evidence presented during trial.
“You preyed on these women’s trusts and their spirituality, and you manipulated them for your own personal gratification,” she said before issuing the sentence.
Chasing Horse did not address the victims during the hearing and has continued to deny the allegations, calling the outcome a “miscarriage of justice.”
He will be eligible for parole after serving 37 years.
A Case That Spanned Years
Born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota — home to the Sicangu Sioux, one of the seven tribes of the Lakota nation — Chasing Horse was known in some communities as a spiritual leader.
Prosecutors said he used that position to exploit victims over a long period of time.
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During the trial, Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci told jurors that for nearly two decades, Chasing Horse “spun a web of abuse” that ensnared multiple women.
The case began with his arrest in 2023 and led to additional investigations across the United States and Canada.
Additional Charges Still Pending
Chasing Horse is also facing separate sexual assault charges in Canada tied to an alleged incident in 2018.
Those proceedings were paused while the U.S. case moved forward but have since resumed.
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