By Zoe Papadakis | Tuesday, 28 April 2026 12:09 PM EDT
Nathan Chasing Horse, the actor known for Dances With Wolves, was sentenced by a Nevada judge to 37 years in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls. The sentence requires him to serve a minimum of 25 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Chasing Horse received credit for the 1,184 days he spent in custody since his 2023 arrest. The decision followed an 11-day trial in January where a Las Vegas jury convicted him on 13 of 21 counts.
The specific convictions included 10 counts of sexual assault of minors under 16, one count of sexual assault, one count of open or gross lewdness, and one count of possessing visual depictions of the sexual conduct of a child. During the hearing, Chasing Horse maintained his innocence and described the legal proceedings as a “miscarriage of justice.”
Prosecutors argued that Chasing Horse leveraged his status as a self-described “Medicine Man” or “Holy Person” within Native American communities to facilitate his crimes. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson stated the outcome sends a clear message that exploitation and abuse will not be tolerated, regardless of the defendant’s public persona or spiritual authority claims.
Chief Deputy District Attorney William Rowles highlighted historical challenges victims faced in seeking accountability, stating: “For decades, victims of Nathan Chasing Horse came forward and they were ignored. I hope this verdict gives them some peace.” The investigation began after a tip in October 2022, leading to a search warrant and his arrest at his residence.
While some allegations spanned years, the case extended beyond Nevada. The Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service in Alberta, Canada, praised survivors who testified, describing the conviction as “a significant step toward justice for the survivors.” The Clark County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the actor’s convictions were directly tied to the misuse of his leadership role.
The trial relied on testimony from several victims, highlighting how long the abuse lasted and how many people were affected. Although this sentence addresses Nevada charges, Chasing Horse faces legal accusations in multiple other states and Canada.
