Full Breakdown
Nathan Chasing Horse Sentenced to Life for Sexual Assault of Indigenous Women and Girls
4/29/2026, 4:02:24 AM
Sentencing Overview
On 27 April 2026, Nevada District Court Judge Jessica Peterson sentenced former actor Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse (49) to life imprisonment with eligibility for parole after 37 years. The sentence follows a conviction on 13 of 21 counts, including ten counts of sexual assault of a minor under 16, one count of open/gross lewdness, one count of sexual assault, and one count of possession of child sexual-abuse imagery. Peterson credited 1,184 days already served and noted his exploitation of women’s spirituality for personal gratification.
Background: Acting Career and Spiritual Leadership
Chasing Horse rose to prominence as “Smiles a Lot” in the 1990 Oscar-winning film *Dances With Wolves* and later appeared in *Into the West*, *Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee*, *The Broken Chain* and *DreamKeeper*. After his acting career, he presented himself as a Lakota medicine man, traveling across the United States and Canada to conduct healing ceremonies and, according to prosecutors, to gain access to vulnerable Indigenous women and girls.
Timeline of Legal Proceedings
- 1990 – Film debut in *Dances With Wolves*.
- 2012 – First alleged assault of victim Corena Leone-LaCroix (at 14).
- Oct 2022 – Tip leads to investigation.
- Jan 2023 – SWAT raid on his Las Vegas home; cellphones with child-abuse imagery seized.
- Feb 2023 – British Columbia charges filed (separate case).
- Jan 2026 – Nevada jury convicts on 13 counts after an 11-day trial.
- Apr 2026 – Life sentence imposed.
Data & Statistics
- Victims who testified: 3 women (including Leone-LaCroix, Siera Begaye, and a third unnamed).
- Charges: 21 total; 13 convictions.
- Sentence: life with parole eligibility after 37 years (some reports cite 25 years).
- Credit for time served: 1,184 days.
- Pending matters: sexual-assault charge in British Columbia, outstanding warrant in Alberta.
Victims’ Testimonies (On-the-Ground Reports)
Leone-LaCroix, who first reported the abuse at 14, described a loss of “the youth, the childhood loss, my first time, my first kiss, the graduation I never got to have.” Siera Begaye, who suffered an ectopic pregnancy from the assault, said she is “choosing to see this moment as a fresh start.” Mother Lynnette Adams testified that she still “struggles to regain my faith and spirituality.”
Official Statements & Responses
Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci told the court that Chasing Horse “spun a web of abuse” for nearly two decades. Chief Deputy District Attorney William Rowles said, “For decades, victims of Nathan Chasing Horse came forward and they were ignored. I hope this verdict gives them some peace.” District Attorney Steve Wolfson added that the verdict “sends a clear message that exploitation and abuse will not be tolerated.” The British Columbia Prosecution Service indicated it will assess next steps after U.S. appeals are exhausted, and the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service called the conviction “a significant step toward justice for the survivors.”
Criticism & Opposition
Defense attorney Craig Mueller described the proposed 37-year term as “unreasonable,” calling the victims “very unhappy young women” and expressing confusion about the sentence’s severity. He also warned that parole in the senior years could pose public-safety concerns.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Parole eligibility: most sources state 37 years, while People reports a minimum of 25 years.
- Age of the defendant: several outlets list 49 years, one New York Times piece lists 50.
- Charge counts: some reports emphasize the ten minor-assault counts, others summarize the total 13 convictions without detailing the open-lewdness and possession counts.
- Sentencing language varies between “life with parole after 37 years” and “37 years to life.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “There is no way to get back the youth, the childhood loss, my first time, my first kiss, the graduation I never got to have.” — Corena Leone-LaCroix, victim
- “The life that little girl could have lived has been taken from me forever.” — Corena Leone-LaCroix, victim
- “I will rebuild my life, reclaim my voice and continue fighting for the future I deserve.” — Siera Begaye, victim
- “You preyed on these women’s trusts and their spirituality, and you manipulated them for your own personal gratification.” — Judge Jessica Peterson
- “This is a miscarriage of justice.” — Nathan Chasing Horse, defendant
Implications for Indigenous Communities
The case underscores the vulnerability of Indigenous women and girls to abuse by individuals claiming spiritual authority. It also highlights systemic challenges in prosecuting such crimes across U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions, and it may influence how tribal and law-enforcement agencies address alleged “medicine-man” exploitation in the future.
