Native actor Nathan Chasing Horse, who appeared in the film "Dances with Wolves," has been sentenced to life in prison on charges of sexual assault.
On the 28th (local time), The Associated Press and People reported that a Las Vegas jury found Nathan Chasing Horse guilty on 13 of 21 counts brought against him. After the convictions on sexual assault-related charges, he was sentenced to life in prison, having faced a sentence range of 37 years to life.
The guilty verdict came after an 11-day trial in which prosecutors presented testimony from multiple victims.
Judge Jessica Peterson sentenced 49-year-old Nathan Chasing Horse to life in prison, with a sentence range of 37 years to life that includes the possibility of parole only after serving at least 25 years.
In a statement released after the verdict, the Clark County district attorney's office said the convictions stem from "multiple criminal allegations, including sexual assaults, committed against victims after Nathan Chasing Horse abused his position of purported spiritual leadership."
It added, "Victims of Nathan Chasing Horse have spoken up for decades but were ignored. We hope this verdict brings them some measure of peace," and, "Today's verdict sends a clear message that exploitation and abuse will not be tolerated, regardless of a defendant's public image or claimed spiritual authority."
Nathan Chasing Horse, known as "Medicine Man" or "Holy Person," is reported to have used his influence within the Native community to gain victims' trust and perpetrate abuse. He was taken into custody in 2023 after Las Vegas police executed a search warrant at his home. Authorities' investigation began with a tip in October 2022, and some of the charges date back several years, The Associated Press reported.
The convictions include 10 counts of sexual assault of a minor under 16, one count of public indecency and lewd conduct, one count of sexual assault, and one count of possession of material depicting sexual conduct by a child.
Nathan Chasing Horse appeared in the 1990 American film "Dances with Wolves" as a young warrior of the Indian Sioux tribe, and after the film's success he used his fame to present himself as a Lakota medicine man.
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