Key Takeaways
- Nathan Lee Chasing Horse, who portrayed himself as a Lakota “medicine man” and was described by investigators as the leader of a cult known as “The Circle,” was convicted in Nevada in January 2026 on 13 charges, including sexual assault of a minor.
- Prosecutors allege that he used his reputation and spiritual authority to manipulate and sexually abuse Indigenous women and girls.
- Chasing Horse faces a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for March 11, 2026.
Early Life and Rise to Public Recognition
Nathan Lee Chasing Horse was born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Sicangu Sioux, one of Lakota Nation’s seven tribes. He gained national recognition as a young actor when he portrayed the character “Smiles a Lot” in the 1990 Kevin Costner film Dances With Wolves.
“The Circle”
According to News Nation Now, “Chasing Horse built a reputation for himself among tribes across the United States and in Canada as a ‘medicine man’ who performed healing ceremonies.” His followers referred to him as a “Holy Person.”
According to investigators, he became a leader of a cult called, “The Circle,” whose members viewed him as a spiritual authority, believing he could communicate with higher powers.
Banished from the Fort Peck Reservation
In July 2015, tribal leaders on the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana voted to ban Chasing Horse from the reservation.
Community members raised safety concerns, “including incidents of alleged sexual abuse, human trafficking, threats to tribal members, intimidation, guns being used to keep tribal members out of ceremonies, and disrespecting the land on and around where the Sundance was previously held in Chelsea.” (ICT News)
According to ICT, the formal banishment motion alleged human trafficking, drug dealing, spiritual abuse, and intimidation.
Supporters of the banishment “said there is at least one open investigation of Chasing Horse alleging he committed sexual abuse against one of his young female followers in South Dakota two years ago,” although no criminal charges had been filed at that time.
Criminal Investigation and Arrest
Las Vegas police arrested Nathan Lee Chasing Horse in January 2023 following a months-long investigation into allegations that he had sexually abused Indigenous women and girls over two decades. The investigation began after police received a tip in October 2022, according to AP News.
Police took Chasing Horse into custody outside the North Las Vegas home where he was living with his five so-called wives. Law enforcement officers raided his residence, where they recovered multiple items connected to the investigation. Police found digital memory cards containing videos that investigators said documented sexual assaults, along with firearms and drugs inside the home.
“According to the warrant, Chasing Horse trained his wives to use firearms and instructed them to ‘shoot it out’ with police officers if they tried to ‘break their family apart.’ If that failed, or if he was ever to be arrested or die unexpectedly, he told his wives to take ‘suicide pills,’ the document said.” (News Nation Now)
According to Las Vegas police, at least six victims were identified, some of whom were as young as 14 when the abuse allegedly occurred. “One of Chasing Horse’s wives was offered to him as a ‘gift’ when she was 15, according to police, while another became a wife after turning 16.” (AP News)
Records showed that the allegations date back to the early 2000s and span several states, including Nevada, South Dakota, and Montana.
“Nathan Chasing Horse used spiritual traditions and their belief system as a tool to sexually assault young girls on numerous occasions” the warrant stated. It is also alleged that Chasing Horse recorded sexual assaults and arranged for victims to have sex with other men in exchange for payment.
The case went through several legal developments before proceeding to trial. According to The Guardian,, “A Nevada judge dismissed the case stemming from the 2023 arrest because of the prosecution’s ‘improper instruction to the grand jury.’” Prosecutors later presented the case to a new grand jury, which returned another indictment in 2024, allowing the prosecution to move forward.
Allegations Presented at Trial
The case proceeded to trial in Las Vegas in January 2026. Over the course of an 11-day trial, jurors heard testimony from three women who accused Nathan Lee Chasing Horse of sexually assaulting them, some of whom were minors when the abuse began.
According to Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci, “for almost 20 years, Chasing Horse ‘spun a web of abuse’ that caught many women.”
“The main accuser was 14 in 2012 when Chasing Horse allegedly told her the spirits wanted her to give up her virginity to save her mother, who was diagnosed with cancer. He then sexually assaulted her and told her that if she told anyone, her mother would die, Pucci said. The sexual assaults continued for years, Pucci said.” (Penticton Herald)
After hearing testimony and arguments from both sides, the jury returned its verdict on January 30, 2026, finding Chasing Horse guilty of 13 of the 21 charges he faced, including charges tied to each of the three victims.
Many of the guilty verdicts related to the abuse that occurred when one of the victims was a minor. Chasing Horse was acquitted on some charges involving later periods when the victim was older.
He faces a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for March 11, 2026.
In addition to the Nevada case, Chasing Horse is also facing sexual exploitation and assault charges in Canada.
Broader Concerns About Violence Against Indigenous Women
This case has drawn national attention to ongoing concerns about violence against Indigenous women and girls. Advocates, researchers, and government agencies have documented disproportionately high rates of sexual violence and exploitation affecting Indigenous communities.
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, “Indigenous women report approximately twice the prevalence of lifetime sexual violence (56 percent) compared to Indigenous men (28 percent), as well as higher rates than White women (49 percent) and White men (21 percent) [58].”
Indigenous women often face significant barriers to reporting violence, which may include limited access to culturally appropriate victim services and distrust of law enforcement. In many cases, jurisdictional challenges involving tribal, state, and federal authorities can further complicate investigations and delay accountability.
Cult Dynamics & Coercive Control
Prosecutors in the Chasing Horse case alleged that he used his reputation as a Lakota “medicine man” and spiritual leader to gain the trust of followers who sought guidance, healing, or participation in ceremonies. Followers believed he had unique spiritual authority; one follower said “Chasing Horse said he was connecting to ancestral spirits.”
These kinds of dynamics create a significant power imbalance. When a leader is viewed as the primary source of spiritual guidance or healing, followers may feel pressure to comply with that authority or fear consequences if they question it.
When allegations involve individuals who hold positions of authority within spiritual or cultural communities, victims may face additional obstacles to reporting abuse. Survivors may fear social consequences, loss of community support, or spiritual repercussions if they challenge a leader who is viewed as a trusted authority figure.
Experts who study coercive control note that these types of power dynamics can be used to manipulate or exploit followers. In some cases, individuals may be led to believe certain actions are spiritually required, making it more difficult to recognize abuse or speak out.
Support and Resources
If you or someone you experienced sexual abuse, exploitation, or trafficking by Nathan Lee Chasing Horse or another spiritual leader, help is available.
Speaking with law enforcement, an advocate, or a trusted professional can be an important step toward safety and healing.
National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 (24/7, confidential)
📱 Text “BEFREE” (233733)
StrongHearts Native Helpline: 1-844-762-8483
National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC)
If you are in immediate danger, contact 911 or your local emergency services.
Legal Options for Survivors
Andreozzi + Foote is currently investigating reports involving Nathan Lee Chasing Horse.
These investigations are conducted with care and, most importantly, a trauma-informed, survivor-centered approach. Our attorneys understand that coming forward about abuse can be difficult, and survivors deserve to be treated with compassion, respect, and confidentiality.
If you or someone you love experienced sexual exploitation, trafficking, or abuse involving Nathan Lee Chasing Horse or another spiritual leader, you may have the right to pursue civil claims against those responsible.
Civil cases can help survivors seek justice by exposing the failures of responsible parties and obtaining financial support for counseling, medical care, and other resources needed for healing and recovery.
Andreozzi + Foote represents survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation across the United States. We offer free, confidential consultations to help survivors understand their legal options.
Contact us today.
📞 (866) 311-8640
📧 info@vca.law
Image source: CBS, courtesy of Ty O’Neil / AP.
