Jury Trial Set to Begin for Former “Dances with Wolves” Actor Nathan Chasing Horse

The jury trial for Nathan Chasing Horse, a former actor accused of sexually abusing Indigenous women and girls, is set to begin Tuesday in Las Vegas.

Prosecutors allege that Chasing Horse used his status as a spiritual leader and healer to exploit victims over more than two decades. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 criminal charges, including sexual assault, sexual assault of a minor, first-degree kidnapping of a minor, and using a minor to produce pornography.

The case sent shock waves through Native communities across North America after Chasing Horse was arrested and indicted in early 2023. After numerous delays, the case is now moving forward following new allegations that he filmed himself sexually abusing a girl younger than 14.

Chasing Horse is best known for playing Smiles A Lot in the 1990 Oscar-winning film Dances with Wolves. He was born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Sicangu Sioux, one of the seven tribes of the Lakota Nation.

According to prosecutors, after the success of the film, Chasing Horse began presenting himself as a Lakota medicine man. They say he traveled across North America performing healing ceremonies and led a group known as “The Circle,” which they describe as a cult. Followers allegedly believed he could communicate with spirits.

Court records say many victims sought him out for medical or spiritual help. One victim testified to a grand jury that she was 14 years old when she approached Chasing Horse, hoping he could heal her mother, who had cancer. Prosecutors allege he told the girl that the spirits demanded she give up her virginity in exchange for her mother’s health. He also allegedly warned her that her mother would die if she told anyone.

In 2024, the original indictment was dismissed after the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that prosecutors improperly defined “grooming” for the grand jury without expert testimony. The court made clear the dismissal was not related to Chasing Horse’s guilt or innocence and allowed for the charges to be refiled.

In October 2024, prosecutors filed new charges, adding allegations that Chasing Horse recorded himself sexually abusing one of his accusers in 2010 or 2011. Authorities say the videos were found on cellphones locked in a safe inside a North Las Vegas home he allegedly shared with five wives, including the girl seen in the recordings.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Tuesday. The trial is expected to last about four weeks, with prosecutors planning to call 18 witnesses.

Last week, Chasing Horse attempted to fire his private defense attorney, claiming the lawyer had not visited him. Judge Jessica Peterson denied the request after removing Chasing Horse from the courtroom when he tried to interrupt her.

Advocates say the case highlights the need for difficult conversations within Native communities. Crystal Lee, CEO and founder of United Natives, said the trial underscores that abuse can happen within Indigenous communities and is not only committed by outsiders.

“How do we hold them accountable?” Lee said. “How do we start these tough conversations?”