‘Dances With Wolves’ Actor Accused Of Allegedly Running Las Vegas Cult
TW: Some readers may find the crimes discussed in this article disturbing.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested 46-years-old Nathan Chasing Horse on Jan. 31.
Police arrested and booked him into Clark County Detention Center on the following charges: sexual assault of a child less than 16 years old, two counts of sexual assault, two counts of sex trafficking of an adult and child abuse/neglect.
Chasing Horse is known for playing Smiles a Lot in the Kevin Costner film “Dances With Wolves.” However, this actor turned cult leader will now face serious charges stemming from an investigation dating back to October 2022, according to AP News.
The AP acquired a 50-page search warrant that said officials believed Chasing Horse was the leader of “The Circle” cult.
Chasing Horse had multiple wives with officials speculating that many of the relationships began when the women were minors, according to 8 News Now.
Many reports say that the “Dances With Wolves” actor portrayed himself as a “holy man,” or “medicine man” despite the Lakota tribal government never giving him that title.
SWAT officers also raided Chasing Horse’s home in North Las Vegas on Jan. 31. According to arrest reports, police found memory cards containing videos of assault. They also found firearms and drugs at the home.
Police identified six victims with some saying that the abuse started when they were 14. The timeline of Chasing Horse’s sexual allegations stem from the early 2000s in multiple states such as Nevada, Montana and South Dakota, The AP reports.
The trail of crime isn’t a sudden issue. The Fort Peck Reservation located in Montana banished Chasing Horse after there were allegations of human trafficking. ICT, a non-profit Indigenous news organization, first reported on this incident in 2018.
“The motion, which alleges human trafficking, drug dealing spiritual abuse and intimidation of tribal members, will stop Chasing Horse from coming onto the reservation and holding a Sundance and ceremonies,” the article states.
According to 8 News Now, Chasing Horse was held on a $20,000 bail with his first expected court appearance to be Thursday.
The U.S. Department of the Interior states that a 2016 study by the National Institute of Justice found that more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3%) have experienced violence in their life, including 56.1% who have experienced sexual violence.
