Dances With Wolves Star Nathan Chasing Horse Sentenced to Life in Prison

‘Dances with Wolves’ actor Nathan Chasing Horse receives a life sentence for the sexual assault of Indigenous women and girls.

The long-awaited legal reckoning for Nathan Chasing Horse, the former child star of the Oscar-winning film Dances with Wolves, reached its climax today in a Nevada courtroom.

A judge sentenced the 49-year-old self-proclaimed “medicine man” to life in prison, marking the end of a decades-long reign of spiritual exploitation and sexual violence that spanned two countries and multiple Indigenous communities.

The sentencing follows a high-profile trial in January, where a jury convicted Chasing Horse on 13 counts, including the sexual assault of a minor and open and gross lewdness.

While the former actor remained stoic in his navy blue detention uniform, the courtroom was filled with the emotional testimonies of survivors who described him not as a spiritual leader, but as a predator who weaponized their own faith against them.

“A Web of Abuse”: Exploiting the Sacred

For nearly 20 years, prosecutors argued, Chasing Horse used the fame he garnered playing “Smiles a Lot” alongside Kevin Costner to build a cult-like following known as “The Circle.”

At its height, the group consisted of as many as 350 followers who viewed Chasing Horse as a powerful Lakota medicine man capable of healing and spiritual guidance.

“He spun a web of abuse that ensnared women who were looking for healing, for community, and for a connection to their heritage,” said Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci.

The trial detailed how Chasing Horse would isolate his victims, often targeting young girls by claiming that “the spirits” demanded their submission to save their families from illness or misfortune.

The Voices of Survivors

The most harrowing moments of the sentencing came from the survivors themselves. Corena Leone-LaCroix, who waived her right to anonymity to share her story, spoke directly to Judge Jessica Peterson about the childhood she lost. Leone-LaCroix was just 14 years old in 2012 when Chasing Horse told her she must give up her virginity to “save her mother” from cancer.

“There is no way to get back the youth, the childhood loss, my first time, my first kiss,” Leone-LaCroix told the court. “The life that little girl could have lived has been taken from me forever.”

Another victim’s mother testified to the “spiritual wreckage” left in Chasing Horse’s wake. “He didn’t just hurt our bodies; he hurt our souls,” she said. “Even to this day, I struggle to regain my faith and spirituality because he used our most sacred traditions to commit his crimes.”

Inside “The Circle”: Suicide Pills and SWAT Raids

The investigation that led to the 2023 arrest of Chasing Horse revealed a dark, insulated world within his North Las Vegas home, which he shared with five wives. During the initial raid, SWAT teams discovered memory cards containing videos of sexual assaults, a cache of firearms, and significant quantities of narcotics.

Most disturbingly, former followers reported that Chasing Horse had prepared a “contingency plan” for his arrest. He reportedly provided his wives with “suicide pills” and instructions to engage in a “shoot-out” with law enforcement if they ever came for him.

A “Miscarriage of Justice”?

Despite the mountain of evidence, including digital recordings of the assaults found in his possession, Chasing Horse maintained his innocence. In a brief statement to the court, he called the proceedings a “miscarriage of justice” and continued to deny any wrongdoing.

Judge Jessica Peterson, however, was unmoved. Before handing down the life sentence, she noted the specific cruelty of his manipulation. “You preyed on these women’s trust and their spirituality,” she stated. “You manipulated them for your own personal gratification, using the very things they held most dear to victimize them.”

The North American Reckoning

While the Nevada sentencing provides a sense of closure for his victims in the United States, Chasing Horse’s legal battles are far from over. Authorities in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, have confirmed that outstanding warrants and sexual assault charges remain active.

Once his appeals in Nevada are exhausted, Canadian prosecutors are expected to seek extradition to address alleged crimes dating back to 2018.

Dr. Crystal Lee, founder of United Natives, expressed hope that the life sentence would send a clear message to other figures who abuse positions of power. “This case shows the importance of believing survivors, especially Indigenous women and girls who have historically been silenced,” she said.