Nathan Chasing Horse Receives 37 Years to Life Sentence Following Sexual Assault Convictions

The Dances With Wolves actor has been sentenced to a minimum of 37 years in prison after being convicted on 13 of 21 charges related to sexual assault of Indigenous women and girls.

Nathan Chasing Horse, 49, received his sentence on Monday, April 27, following an 11-day trial in January that featured testimony from multiple victims. Judge Jessica Peterson imposed the sentence of 37 years to life, with eligibility for parole after serving a minimum of 25 years. The actor received credit for the 1,184 days he spent in custody since his 2023 arrest.

During the sentencing hearing, Chasing Horse maintained his innocence, stating "I deny them…I did not do these things" and characterizing the verdict as a "miscarriage of justice."

One woman who testified, who was 14 at the time of the alleged assault, described the lasting impact of the experience: "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. The life that little girl could have lived has been taken from me forever."

The actor had faced 10 counts of sexual assault of a minor under 16, one count of open and gross lewdness, one count of sexual assault, and one count of possession of visual presentation depicting sexual conduct of a child.

Prosecutors argued that Chasing Horse exploited his position as a spiritual leader, with accusers and their families claiming he leveraged his authority during ceremonies and medical consultations. According to court testimony, he told one victim that spirits "wanted her to give up her virginity to save her mother, who had cancer."

Chief Deputy District Attorney William Rowles commented on the outcome: "For decades, victims of Nathan Chasing Horse came forward and they were ignored. I hope this verdict gives them some peace."

Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson added: "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."

Additional charges remain pending against Chasing Horse in other states and Canada.