The long-awaited trial of Nathan Chasing Horse, the former actor best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film Dances with Wolves, commenced on Tuesday 13th January 2026 in Las Vegas. Jury selection began for a case where Chasing Horse faces 21 serious charges, including sexual assault, kidnapping of a minor, and the use of a minor in producing pornography.
Allegations of Abuse Spanning Two Decades
Prosecutors allege that over a period of twenty years, Chasing Horse exploited his standing as a purported Lakota spiritual leader and healer to sexually abuse Indigenous women and girls. Following his starring role in the 1990 film, he is said to have travelled across North America performing ceremonies, proclaiming himself a medicine man.
Authorities claim he led a group known as 'The Circle', with followers who believed he could communicate with spirits. According to grand jury testimony, victims sought him out for medical help, only to be manipulated and abused.
One particularly harrowing allegation, detailed in court transcripts, involves a then-14-year-old girl who approached him to heal her mother's cancer. Chasing Horse, who had previously treated the family, allegedly told her that spirits demanded her virginity in exchange for her mother's health. He is accused of sexually assaulting her and threatening that her mother would die if she disclosed the abuse.
A Tumultuous Path to Trial
The case, which sent shockwaves through Native American communities upon Chasing Horse's 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, the court clarified this was not a judgement on guilt, and prosecutors refiled charges in October 2024. This included a new, grave allegation: that Chasing Horse recorded himself having sex with an accuser when she was under 14. These recordings, dated to 2010 or 2011, were reportedly found on phones in a safe at his North Las Vegas home, which he shared with five wives, including the girl from the videos.
Community Reckoning and Courtroom Drama
The trial, expected to last four weeks, will see prosecutors call 18 witnesses. It comes after last-minute attempts by Chasing Horse to dismiss his private defence attorney were denied by Judge Jessica Peterson, who removed him from the courtroom when he tried to interrupt proceedings.
Crystal Lee, CEO of the support organisation United Natives, states the case forces difficult but necessary conversations about violence and accountability within Native communities. "How do we hold them accountable?" she asked. "How do we start these tough conversations?" The trial of Nathan Chasing Horse, born on South Dakota's Rosebud Reservation, now represents a critical moment for justice and healing.
