'Dances With Wolves' Actor Nathan Chasing Horse Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sexual Assault of Indigenous Women and Girls

 

'Dances With Wolves' Actor Nathan Chasing Horse Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sexual Assault of Indigenous Women and Girls

A Nevada judge has sentenced actor Nathan Chasing Horse, known for his role in the Oscar-winning film "Dances With Wolves," to life in prison for sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls. The sentencing, handed down on April 27, 2026, has driven a sharp spike in search interest across the United States.

Search Trends

Country Search Volume
🇺🇸 United States 27,100+ searches

According to Kiolix Pulse data, the keyword "Nathan Chasing Horse" has been classified as a short-term momentum trend within the past hour. Search interest surged immediately following news reports of the sentencing on the afternoon of April 27, 2026 (local time).


The Sentence

Nevada District Judge Jessica Peterson sentenced Nathan Chasing Horse, 49, to life in prison on Monday, April 27, 2026, for sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls. The sentence carries a minimum of 37 years before parole eligibility, and Chasing Horse was additionally ordered to register as a sex offender.

A jury had previously convicted him on 13 counts, the majority of which were related to the sexual assault of three women. He was acquitted on some charges.

Victims' Statements

Accusers and their families addressed the court, describing ongoing trauma stemming from Chasing Horse's actions and expressing how deeply his exploitation of his role as a spiritual leader had shaken their faith. One victim, Corena Leone-LaCroix, who was 14 years old when the assaults began, told the court that the life she could have lived had been taken from her permanently, and that there was no way to recover what was lost — her youth, her childhood milestones, and her sense of self.

Background

Chasing Horse was born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Sicangu Sioux, one of the seven tribes of the Lakota nation. After appearing as the young Sioux tribal member Smiles a Lot in Kevin Costner's Academy Award-winning film "Dances With Wolves," he traveled extensively across Indian Country, attending powwows and conducting healing ceremonies.

During his trial, Nevada prosecutors argued that Chasing Horse exploited his reputation as a Lakota medicine man to prey on Indigenous women and girls. Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci told the jury that for nearly 20 years, Chasing Horse systematically abused multiple women who came to him seeking spiritual or medical help.

Charges in Canada

The British Columbia Prosecution Service charged Chasing Horse with sexual assault in February 2023 for an alleged offense that took place in September 2018 near Keremeos, a village approximately four hours east of Vancouver. The Canadian case was paused in November 2023 due to the proceedings in the United States but resumed the following year. Prosecutors in British Columbia stated that they will assess next steps after Chasing Horse's appeals in the U.S. are exhausted. A warrant against Chasing Horse also remains outstanding in Alberta, with the Tsuut'ina Nation Police Service confirming it is in contact with the Alberta Crown Prosecutors Office regarding that warrant.

Explore This Trend

Detailed Google search trend data for this topic is available on Kiolix Pulse.

Sources

  • CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/27/us/nathan-chasing-horse-life-sentence
  • AP / KSAT: https://www.ksat.com/entertainment/2026/04/27/dances-with-wolves-actor-nathan-chasing-horse-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-sexual-assault/
  • U.S. News & World Report: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/nevada/articles/2026-04-27/dances-with-wolves-actor-nathan-chasing-horse-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-sexual-assault
  • 8 News Now (KLAS): https://www.8newsnow.com/video/judge-sentences-nathan-chasing-horse/11739271/
  • Las Vegas Review-Journal: https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/las-vegas-judge-sentences-chasing-horse-to-decades-in-prison-for-sexual-assault-case-3793463/

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