American actor Nathan Chasing Horse has been sentenced to life in prison by a Nevada court after being convicted on multiple sexual assault charges involving Indigenous women and girls.
Chasing Horse, best known for his role in the movie Dances With Wolves, was sentenced by Judge Jessica Peterson after a jury earlier found him guilty on 13 counts, most of them related to sexual assault. He will be eligible for parole after serving 37 years.
Prosecutors said the 49-year-old abused his reputation as a spiritual leader to manipulate and exploit victims over nearly two decades. Several survivors testified during the trial, describing lasting trauma and betrayal of trust.
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One victim, Corena Leone-LaCroix, told the court she was 14 when the abuse began and said she lost much of her youth because of the ordeal. Her testimony became one of the most emotional moments of the sentencing hearing.
Chasing Horse denied the allegations and described the verdict as a miscarriage of justice. However, the court proceeded with sentencing after considering the convictions and testimonies presented during the case.
Authorities first arrested Chasing Horse in 2023 following an investigation into allegations spanning several years. He also reportedly faces separate pending charges in Canada.
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