The jury trial for Nathan Chasing Horse, the actor best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film Dances with Wolves, is scheduled to begin on Tuesday in Las Vegas. He faces 21 criminal charges, including sexual assault, kidnapping of a minor, and the production of child pornography, following allegations he abused Indigenous women and girls over two decades while leading a cult known as The Circle.
Allegations of Abuse and Spiritual Manipulation
Prosecutors allege that Chasing Horse, born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, used his reputation as a Lakota medicine man and spiritual healer to exploit vulnerable victims. According to grand jury testimony, one victim was just 14 years old when she sought his help for her mother's cancer diagnosis. He is accused of telling her that spirits demanded she give up her virginity in exchange for her mother's health, then threatening that her mother would die if she disclosed the assault.
The case, which sent shockwaves through Native American communities upon his arrest in early 2023, has faced significant delays. An original indictment was dismissed in 2024 after the Nevada Supreme Court ruled prosecutors mishandled the grand jury process. However, charges were refiled in October 2024 with new, severe allegations: that Chasing Horse filmed himself having sex with one accuser when she was under 14 years old.
A Tumultuous Path to Trial
Prosecutors state the incriminating recordings, dated to 2010 or 2011, were discovered on mobile phones in a locked safe at his North Las Vegas home, which he reportedly shared with five wives, including the girl from the videos. The trial is expected to last four weeks, with prosecutors planning to call 18 witnesses to the stand.
The proceedings have already seen courtroom drama. Just a week before the trial, Chasing Horse attempted to fire his private defence attorney, claiming inadequate visits. Judge Jessica Peterson denied his request and removed him from the courtroom when he attempted to interrupt her.
A Broader Conversation on Accountability
Crystal Lee, CEO of the victim services organisation United Natives, said this high-profile case forces difficult discussions about perpetrators within Native communities. "This case is a reminder that violence also occurs within Native communities and is not just something committed by outsiders," she stated. "How do we hold them accountable? How do we start these tough conversations?"
Nathan Chasing Horse has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Jury selection begins on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, marking the start of a long-awaited legal reckoning for the allegations that have trailed the former actor for years.
