Nathan Chasing Horse, known for his role in ‘Dances With Wolves’, was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday in Nevada. He faced multiple charges of sexual assault against Indigenous women and girls.
Chasing Horse was convicted on 13 charges, primarily relating to the abuse of three women. He will be eligible for parole after serving 37 years.
The abuse reportedly began when Corena Leone-LaCroix was only 14 years old. Chasing Horse used his status as a Lakota medicine man to exploit the trust of these women.
Judge Jessica Peterson addressed the gravity of the situation. She stated, “You preyed on these women’s trusts and their spirituality, and you manipulated them for your own personal gratification.” Victims shared their trauma during the trial.
Chasing Horse was initially arrested in 2023. In February 2023, he faced additional charges in British Columbia related to an incident from September 2018.
Despite his denial of all allegations, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him. Some charges resulted in acquittals, but the majority led to his life sentence.
As victims like Lynnette Adams expressed their struggles with faith and spirituality post-abuse, Siera Begaye chose to view this moment as a fresh start.
The next steps involve ongoing support for the victims and potential appeals from Chasing Horse’s legal team.