A Nevada jury convicted actor Nathan Chasing Horse, recognized for his position in Dances With Wolves, of sexually assaulting Indigenous girls and ladies. The Las Vegas jury delivered responsible verdicts on 13 of 21 prices, primarily involving a sufferer who was 14 years outdated when the abuse began. Chasing Horse, aged 49, faces a minimal sentence of 25 years in jail, with sentencing scheduled for March 11.
Verdict Particulars and Instant Reactions
Prosecutors argued that Chasing Horse abused his place as a Lakota drugs man to focus on Indigenous girls and ladies. The conviction follows his arrest and indictment in 2023, marking the top of a protracted authorized battle. Because the jury introduced the verdicts, Chasing Horse stayed silent within the courtroom, whereas victims and supporters hugged within the hallway, many carrying yellow ribbons in solidarity.
Clark County Chief Deputy District Legal professional William Rowles expressed gratitude to the accusers for his or her testimony. “I simply hope that the individuals who got here ahead over time and made complaints in opposition to Nathan Chasing Horse can discover some peace on this,” he said.
Protection legal professional Craig Mueller plans to file a movement for a brand new trial. He voiced confusion and disappointment over the jury’s resolution, citing significant doubts in regards to the sincerity of the accusations.
Background on Chasing Horse’s Affect
Chasing Horse gained prominence after showing within the 1990 Oscar-winning movie Dances With Wolves, one of many period’s notable initiatives that includes Native American actors. Following the film, he traveled throughout North America, conducting therapeutic ceremonies that bolstered his fame.
The trial highlights a broader push by authorities to deal with the epidemic of violence in opposition to Native girls. Over the three-week proceedings, jurors heard accounts from three girls who alleged sexual assaults by Chasing Horse, together with incidents involving minors. The jury convicted him on prices associated to all three girls.
Key Trial Testimonies and Arguments
In closing statements, Deputy District Legal professional Bianca Pucci described how Chasing Horse wove an online of abuse spanning practically 20 years, ensnaring a number of victims. She emphasised that sexual assault instances typically lack eyewitnesses and happen in non-public settings.
Mueller countered in his closings that no direct proof, resembling eyewitness accounts, supported the claims. He challenged the credibility of the first accuser, labeling her a “scorned girl.”
The lead accuser testified that in 2012, at age 14, Chasing Horse claimed non secular steering required her to give up her virginity to treatment her mom’s most cancers analysis. He then assaulted her and warned that disclosure would trigger her mom’s loss of life, in keeping with Pucci’s opening remarks. The jury acquitted Chasing Horse on some prices tied to an older sufferer recognized as a spouse.
