Sentencing Details
Judge Jessica Peterson sentenced Nathan Chasing Horse to 37 years to life in prison on Monday, April 27, 2026. The sentence represents the maximum available in the case. Chasing Horse will be eligible for parole after serving a minimum of 25 years. He received credit for 1,184 days already served in jail since his arrest in early 2023.
Conviction Summary
A Clark County jury found Chasing Horse guilty on 13 of 21 counts filed against him in January 2026 after nearly nine hours of deliberation. The guilty verdicts included multiple counts of sexual assault of a minor under 16, one count of open and gross lewdness, one count of sexual assault, and a child sexual abuse material count. He was acquitted on eight other charges.
Allegations and Background
Prosecutors alleged that Chasing Horse, known for his role in the 1990 film 'Dances with Wolves,' used his self-professed position as a medicine man to lead a cult called The Circle and sexually abuse women and children. The cult reportedly had up to 350 followers at its height. Police say Chasing Horse abused Indigenous girls over approximately two decades across multiple states including South Dakota, Montana, and Nevada.
Trial Process
Sentencing was delayed multiple times as Chasing Horse's attorney Craig Mueller sought to vacate the guilty verdict. Mueller questioned victim compensation funds granted through Nevada's Victims of Crime program, arguing one $5,000 award constituted a bribe for testimony. Judge Peterson ruled against this motion after prosecutors explained the funds were intended to cover treatment costs not covered by insurance and had not been paid out.
Additional Charges
Outside Nevada, Chasing Horse faces additional warrants for alleged crimes in Montana and Canada. He was arrested in early 2023 on charges of sex trafficking, sexual assault of a child, and child abuse. 
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