1 month ago
Nathan Chasing Horse has been sentenced to life successful situation for sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls.
A Nevada judge gave nan Dances With Wolves character his condemnation Monday. A assemblage had antecedently convicted him of 13 charges, mostly related to intersexual assault. He was accused by 3 women, including 1 who was 14 erstwhile nan assaults began. He was acquitted connected immoderate charges.
Accusers and their families told Judge Jessica Peterson they proceed to suffer from nan trauma caused by Chasing Horse and struggle pinch their religion aft he exploited his position arsenic a belief leader.
Chasing Horse, wearing his navy bluish Clark region detention halfway uniform, stared consecutive up arsenic victims publication their statements. He denied nan charges against him.
“This is simply a miscarriage of justice,” he told nan judge connected Monday.
Other charges successful Canada are still pending
The sentencing wraps a years-long effort to prosecute nan erstwhile character aft he was first arrested and indicted successful 2023. That first apprehension reverberated astir Indian Country, pinch rule enforcement successful different states and Canada pursuing up pinch much criminal charges. Those charges are still pending.
The British Columbia Prosecution Service said Chasing Horse was charged pinch intersexual battle successful February 2023, though nan day of nan alleged discourtesy took spot successful September 2018 adjacent Keremeos, a colony astir 4 hours eastbound of Vancouver. In November 2023, nan lawsuit paused owed to Chasing Horse’s charges successful nan United States, but resumed nan pursuing year.
After each of Chasing Horse’s appeals person been exhausted, British Columbia prosecutors will measure adjacent steps, Damienne Darby, communications counsel for nan British Columbia Prosecution Service, said successful an email.
A warrant against Chasing Horse remains outstanding successful Alberta, nan Tsuut’ina Nation constabulary work successful Alberta said successful a connection pursuing Chasing Horse’s condemnation successful January. The Tsuut’ina Nation constabulary work said that it is successful interaction pinch nan Alberta Crown prosecutors agency regarding nan warrant.
January proceedings focuses connected his domiciled arsenic belief leader.
Chasing Horse was calved connected nan Rosebud Reservation successful South Dakota, which is location to nan Sicangu Sioux, 1 of nan 7 tribes of nan Lakota nation. Following his quality arsenic nan young Sioux people personnel Smiles a Lot successful Kevin Costner’s Oscar-winning movie Dances With Wolves, Chasing Horse traveled crossed Indian Country to be powwows and execute treatment ceremonies.
During his trial, Nevada prosecutors said Chasing Horse utilized his estimation arsenic a Lakota medicine man to prey connected Indigenous women and girls.
Bianca Pucci, lawman territory attorney, told nan assemblage that for almost 20 years, Chasing Horse “spun a web of abuse” that ensnared galore women.
Jurors heard from 3 women who said Chasing Horse sexually assaulted them. The assemblage returned blameworthy verdicts connected immoderate charges related to each three.
Multiple victims described really they participated successful his ceremonies aliases went to Chasing Horse for aesculapian help.
Corena Leone-LaCroix, 1 of nan victims, was 14 successful 2012 erstwhile Chasing Horse allegedly told her nan spirits wanted her to springiness up her virginity to prevention her mother, who was diagnosed pinch cancer. He past sexually assaulted her and told her that if she told anyone, her mother would die, according to Pucci. The intersexual assaults continued for years, Pucci said. The Associated Press typically does not usage nan sanction of alleged intersexual battle victims unless they travel guardant publicly, arsenic Leone-LaCroix has.
Chasing Horse denied nan allegations and his lawyer questioned nan main accuser’s credibility, calling her a “scorned woman”. His lawyer had revenge a mobility for a caller trial, arguing that a witnesser was not qualified to talk astir grooming and that nan statute of limitations had expired. That mobility was denied.
Victims and their family members testified that they struggle pinch their religion arsenic a consequence of Chasing Horse’s actions. The mothers of nan victims said Chasing Horse betrayed their spot and abused ineffable traditions.
“Even to this time I struggle to regain my religion and spirituality,” a victim’s mother said.
One unfortunate said she still faces complications aft suffering an ectopic gestation arsenic a consequence of nan battle and being forced to acquisition surgery.
“I americium choosing to spot this infinitesimal arsenic a caller start. I will rebuild my life, reclaim my sound and proceed fighting for nan early I deserve,” 1 unfortunate said.
Dr Crystal Lee, CEO and laminitis of nan statement United Natives, which offers services to victims of intersexual abuse, said she hopes nan victims find bid pinch nan sentencing. Lee said Chasing Horse’s lawsuit shows nan value of holding high-profile perpetrators accountable, and believing nan victims involved.
Chasing Horse utilized his position arsenic an character and medicine man to prey connected victims, likewise to different religion leaders who maltreatment their power, Lee said.
“I deliberation it makes america mobility who we spot and why we trust,” Lee said.
