Ex-Actor Nathan Chasing Horse Jailed for Sexual Assault
US former actor Nathan Chasing Horse has been sentenced to at least 37 years in prison for sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls.
The 49-year-old, widely recognized for his role in the Oscar-winning film Dances With Wolves, was previously convicted on 13 charges. These charges predominantly related to the assault of three women, with one victim being just 14 years old when the abuse began.
Exploitation of Spiritual Leadership
Chasing Horse, also known as Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse, had cultivated a reputation as a medicine man among Indigenous tribes across the US and Canada. Accusers and their families testified in a Nevada court that he **exploited his revered position as a spiritual leader**, manipulating multiple victims who sought his guidance in ceremonies or approached him for medical assistance.
One of his victims, Corena Leone-LaCroix, who was 14 at the time the abuse started and bravely came forward publicly, shared her profound anguish: “There is no way to get back the youth, the childhood loss, my first time, my first kiss, the graduation I never got to have.” She further stated, “The life that little girl could have lived has been taken from me forever,” as reported by the news agency AP, which noted her public disclosure of the allegations.
Before passing sentence, Judge Jessica Peterson directly addressed Chasing Horse, emphasizing that he **preyed on women’s spirituality**, adding: “You manipulated them for your own personal gratification.”
Background and Conviction Details
As an actor, Chasing Horse was best known for his portrayal of a young member of South Dakota’s Sioux tribe in the critically acclaimed 1990 film Dances With Wolves.
Jurors heard compelling testimonies from three women who detailed being sexually assaulted by Chasing Horse. He was ultimately found guilty of 13 of the 21 charges brought against him. Deputy district attorney Bianca Pucci told the jury that Chasing Horse had “spun a web of abuse” for almost two decades. She recounted a particularly disturbing incident where he allegedly told Leone-LaCroix that spirits required her to give up her virginity to save her mother, who was suffering from cancer.
Chasing Horse, who consistently denied the allegations, will be eligible for parole after serving 37 years of his sentence.
#NathanChasingHorse #SexualAssault #IndigenousWomen #DancesWithWolves #JusticeServed #NevadaCourt #SpiritualAbuse #ActorSentenced #CrimeNews #VictimSupport
Leave a Reply