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A Nevada assemblage connected Friday convicted "Dances With Wolves" histrion Nathan Chasing Horse of aggregate charges of sexually assaulting a minor.
The jurors successful Las Vegas acquitted Chasing Horse, who had pleaded not blameworthy to each 21 charges, connected different intersexual battle charges. His sentencing is scheduled for March 11.
Prosecutors said Chasing Horse used his reputation arsenic a Lakota medicine antheral to prey connected Indigenous women and girls. Most of the blameworthy verdicts returned by the assemblage centered connected Chasing Horse's behaviour with a unfortunate who was 14 years aged erstwhile Chasing Horse began assaulting her.
The verdicts people the climax of a yearslong effort to prosecute Chasing Horse aft helium was archetypal arrested and indicted successful 2023 successful a lawsuit that sent daze waves done Indian Country. The Nevada Supreme Court ordered the dismissal of Chasing Horse's archetypal indictment in 2024.
As the verdict was read, Chasing Horse stood quietly. Victims and their supporters cried and hugged successful the hallway portion wearing yellowish ribbons.
"Dances With Wolves" was 1 of the astir salient films featuring Native American actors erstwhile it premiered successful 1990. After Chasing Horse appeared successful the Oscar-winning film, helium traveled crossed North America and performed healing ceremonies.
Nathan Chasing Horse appears successful tribunal for his intersexual battle proceedings connected Jan. 20, 2026, successful Las Vegas.
John Locher / AP
Earlier this month, a week earlier the trial, Chasing Horse was temporarily thrown retired of court after helium disrupted proceedings with demands helium beryllium allowed to occurrence his defence attorney.
His proceedings came arsenic authorities person responded much successful caller years to an epidemic of unit against Native women.
During the three-week trial, jurors heard from 3 women who accidental Chasing Horse sexually assaulted them, immoderate of whom were underage astatine the time.
Clark County Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci said successful her closing statements Wednesday that for astir 20 years, Chasing Horse "spun a web of abuse" that caught galore women.
Defense lawyer Craig Mueller said successful his closing statements determination was nary evidence, including eyewitnesses. He questioned the main accuser's credibility, describing her arsenic a "scorned woman."
Prosecutors said intersexual battle cases seldom person eyewitnesses and often hap down closed doors.
The main accuser was 14 years aged successful 2012 erstwhile Chasing Horse allegedly told her the spirits wanted her to springiness up her virginity to prevention her mother, who was diagnosed with cancer. He past sexually assaulted her and told her that if she told anyone, her parent would die, Pucci said during opening statements.
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