Nathan Chasing Horse, the former “Dances With Wolves” actor, is facing new legal troubles as prosecutors in Las Vegas have filed a new criminal case against him. The new charges accuse Chasing Horse of possessing and producing explicit videos of a minor. These charges were filed just as authorities finalized the dismissal of a sweeping sex abuse indictment against Chasing Horse in Clark County District Court.
The dismissal of Chasing Horse’s previous indictment came under an order from the Nevada Supreme Court, which left open the possibility of the charges being refiled. District Attorney Steve Wolfson has stated that his office intends to refile the charges, which included sexual assault of a minor, kidnapping, and child abuse. In the new case, Chasing Horse is facing one felony count each of possessing and producing child sexual abuse materials, and he is currently being held on $200,000 bail.
During a court hearing, prosecutors revealed that Chasing Horse allegedly recorded videos of himself engaging in sexual acts with one of his accusers when she was under the age of 14. In at least one video, the girl was found to be fully unconscious. The footage was discovered on cellphones inside a locked safe in the North Las Vegas home where Chasing Horse reportedly lived with five wives, including the girl featured in the videos.
Chasing Horse’s defence attorney declined to comment after the court hearing, while the prosecutor also refrained from making any statements. The dismissal of the previous indictment was based on legal arguments concerning the presentation of evidence to the grand jury, and prosecutors’ handling of statements made by one of the victims. The dismissal was without prejudice, allowing the possibility of the charges being refiled.
Chasing Horse, known for his role as Smiles A Lot in the film “Dances with Wolves,” has been in custody since last January. The case against him has garnered attention within Indian Country and has led to further criminal charges in both the U.S. and Canada. Authorities allege that Chasing Horse, who hails from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, used his position as a self-proclaimed medicine man to exploit vulnerable girls and women over the years.
Accusations suggest that he established a cult and took underage wives, leveraging his reputation to gain access to his victims. Despite the challenges to the case and the dismissal of the initial indictment, prosecutors are expected to present their case to a new grand jury at a later date. Chasing Horse’s legal battle continues as he remains incarcerated in Las Vegas.