The Nevada Supreme Court has ordered the dismissal of a sex abuse indictment against Nathan Chasing Horse, citing errors in the grand jury proceedings. The case had been at a standstill for more than a year as Chasing Horse challenged the charges, which included 18 counts of criminal sexual abuse. Chasing Horse’s lawyer argued that evidence presented to the grand jury was tainted and that exculpatory evidence was not provided by prosecutors. The court agreed that these errors undermined the grand jury process and directed the dismissal of the indictment without prejudice, allowing for the possibility of charges being refiled in the future.
Chasing Horse, a former actor who appeared in “Dances with Wolves,” has been in custody since his arrest in January last year. Police found firearms, drugs, and videos of sexual assaults at his North Las Vegas home where he lived with five wives, two of whom were underage when he married them. Chasing Horse is accused of using his position as a self-proclaimed medicine man to gain access to vulnerable girls and women, starting in the early 2000s. He faces criminal sexual abuse charges in multiple jurisdictions, including U.S. District Court in Nevada and on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana. Tribal leaders in Montana banned him from the reservation in 2015 due to allegations of trafficking and drug dealing, among others.
The 48-year-old Chasing Horse had argued that the sexual encounters were consensual, but one of the accusers was younger than 16, the age of consent in Nevada. He is believed to be the leader of a cult called “The Circle,” where followers believe he can communicate with higher powers. Police in southern Alberta have also been investigating his possible connection to past sexual assaults. Chasing Horse’s lawyer declined to comment further on the ruling, while the prosecutor did not respond to requests for comment. The Nevada Supreme Court’s decision reverses earlier rulings upholding the charges and highlights the importance of proper grand jury proceedings in ensuring a fair legal process.
The court’s order acknowledges the seriousness of the allegations against Chasing Horse but does not express an opinion on his guilt or innocence. The dismissal of the indictment without prejudice leaves open the possibility of charges being refiled in the future, depending on the outcome of any new grand jury proceedings. Chasing Horse’s case has sent shockwaves throughout Indian Country, leading to more criminal charges in the U.S. and Canada. His arrest in Las Vegas in 2023 helped corroborate long-standing allegations against him and sparked investigations in multiple jurisdictions. The former actor’s reputation as a medicine man and cult leader has been called into question, with tribal leaders taking action to ban him from their communities.
Despite the dismissal of the indictment in Nevada, Chasing Horse still faces criminal charges in other jurisdictions. The multiple allegations of criminal sexual abuse, drug trafficking, and spiritual abuse have raised serious concerns about his conduct and behavior over the years. The court’s decision to dismiss the indictment due to errors in the grand jury proceedings underscores the importance of upholding the integrity of the legal process, especially in cases involving serious allegations of sexual abuse. Chasing Horse’s case highlights the complexities of investigating and prosecuting crimes that occur over a long period of time and involve multiple victims in different locations.
