Former “Dances With Wolves” actor Nathan Chasing Horse received a life‑sentence Monday in Nevada after a jury convicted him of multiple sexual‑assault counts and child‑abuse image possession. Police raided his Las Vegas home in January 2023, uncovering phones with videos appearing to show him engaging in illegal activity with minors. The conviction ends a two‑decade abuse saga that leveraged his status as a spiritual healer.

Three women testified that Chasing Horse abused them, one describing an assault that began in 2012 when she was 14 and continued for years. Prosecutors argued he exploited his role as a respected Native American medicine man to manipulate victims. Judge Jessica Peterson of the Nevada District Court sentenced him, noting he preyed on trust and spirituality for personal gratification.

The public case revives scrutiny of Hollywood’s reliance on Indigenous talent for prestige projects after the 1990 Oscar sweep, where Chasing Horse’s child role helped launch several Native actors. A separate sexual‑assault charge remains pending in British Columbia, leaving additional legal exposure. The life term removes a once‑celebrated figure from the entertainment and healing‑practice spheres.