The movie “Dances with Wolves” was the fourth-highest grossing film in 1990, and it was also the best money maker for Orion Pictures in general. These stats alone helped make Nathan Chasing Horse, an actor in the film, a very recognizable name and face over the years.
Now, the 46-year-old former movie star is facing very serious sex-related charges, and his criminal trial has been put on hold indefinitely. According to reports, Chasing Horse has been accused of abusing Indigenous women for at least the past ten years.
After appearing in the movie, Chasing Horse was accused of attempting to pass himself off as a medicine man with specific healing powers. He also claimed that he could contact and communicate with higher beings. While parading as this spiritual leader, Chasing Horse made connections with vulnerable girls and women. He’s accused of sexually abusing at least five victims, and he was arrested on January 31st in Nevada.
Once the arrest was made, numerous other jurisdictions, including throughout Indian Country, Nevada, Montana, and Canada, also filed charges as more victims came forward. As a result of the accusations, he’s facing over 18 felony criminal charges which include allegations like kidnapping, child abuse, lewdness, and sexual assault of a minor.
Chasing Horse’s trial was originally set to begin on May 1 after a grand jury indicted him in February. On April 12th, however, his public defender asked to pause the proceedings. The defender plans on requesting that the whole case get dismissed, and she plans on doing so by making her case to the Nevada Supreme Court.
In the meantime, Chasing Horse remains in jail in Las Vegas and is being held on a $300,000 bail.
While Chasing Horse is facing multiple serious charges, any sex-related charge comes with extremely significant consequences in Las Vegas. Not only will a conviction come with criminal penalties that will likely involve jail time, financial fines, and possible probation time, but it will also require you to register as a sex offender in the state.
When you register as a sex offender in Las Vegas, you have to provide the local police department with your DNA and fingerprints. You also need to provide your address and your place of employment. If anything changes, then you must report the changes to the police department. You’ll also need to check in with the department in-person at least once every 180 days.
You’ll also need to comply with various requirements when it comes to where you can work and places you can visit. For instance, you might not be able to work around children or attend events where children will be present.
The best way to avoid these consequences is to avoid a criminal conviction. Your best shot at securing justice and avoiding a conviction is to hire a solid criminal defense attorney who can help you formulate a good defense strategy. If you’re looking for an attorney to help, then we invite you to schedule a consultation with our attorneys today.