Nathan Chasing Horse, known for his role in the Oscar-winning film 'Dances With Wolves,' has been sentenced to 37 years to life in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls over two decades.
A Las Vegas jury found Chasing Horse guilty on 13 of 21 charges in January following an 11-day trial. He was originally arrested by a SWAT team in 2023 on charges including child abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking.
Prosecutors argued that Chasing Horse exploited his influence within the Native American community to target victims. His convictions include 10 counts of sexual assault of a minor under 16, open/gross lewdness, sexual assault, and possession of child sexual abuse material.
He will be eligible for parole after serving at least 25 years, according to local outlet KTNV. Chasing Horse also faces sex crime charges in other states and Canada. British Columbia prosecutors said they will decide on next steps after any U.S. appeals are resolved.
Chasing Horse maintained his innocence at sentencing. His attorney, Craig A. Mueller, told TMZ they plan to appeal, arguing the case should have been dismissed due to the statute of limitations.