A former Hollywood actor once celebrated for his role in Dances with Wolves is now headed to prison for life after a shocking fall from grace that prosecutors say involved years of manipulation, abuse, and control.
Nathan Chasing Horse, 49 — known for playing the young Sioux character Smiles a Lot in the Oscar-winning epic — was sentenced Tuesday in Las Vegas to life behind bars after being convicted on more than a dozen criminal charges tied to sexual assaults against Indigenous women and girls.
Authorities say the case only began to unravel in 2023, when a SWAT team raided his home and uncovered disturbing allegations that Chasing Horse had reinvented himself as a so-called spiritual leader — one prosecutors say used his position to prey on vulnerable victims over the course of nearly two decades.
In court, victims and their families painted a chilling picture of manipulation and fear. According to testimony, several women said they initially sought him out for guidance, healing, or participation in ceremonies — only to become trapped in what prosecutors described as a “web of abuse.”
During the 11-day trial, Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci revealed one of the most disturbing allegations: a victim who was just 14 years old said Chasing Horse convinced her that “spirits” demanded she give up her virginity to save her mother, who was battling cancer. Prosecutors say he then sexually assaulted her and threatened that her mother would die if she told anyone — a tactic they say kept victims silent for years.
Despite the conviction, Chasing Horse continues to deny the allegations. He will be eligible for parole in 2063.
The case may not be over. Officials say he is also facing additional charges in Canada, with a warrant issued in Alberta and ongoing legal matters in British Columbia.
Once part of a film that won seven Academy Awards and captured global audiences, Chasing Horse’s legacy has now been completely overshadowed by what authorities describe as one of the most disturbing abuse cases in recent memory — a story that has left communities shaken and demanding accountability.
The stunning downfall raises a haunting question: how did a man once tied to Hollywood prestige allegedly operate in plain sight for so long?
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