LAS VEGAS, USA — Nathan Chasing Horse was sentenced on Monday, April 28, 2026, to life in prison after being convicted of multiple counts of sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls, following a trial in Nevada.
A jury had previously found Chasing Horse, 49, guilty on 13 charges, most of them linked to the sexual assault of three women.
During the sentencing hearing, victims and their families addressed the court, describing lasting emotional and psychological harm.
“There is no way to get back the youth, the childhood loss, my first time, my first kiss, the graduation I never got to have,” said Corena Leone-LaCroix, who was 14 when Chasing Horse assaulted her.
“The life that little girl could have lived has been taken from me forever.”
Leone-LaCroix was among those who spoke publicly about the abuse.
The Associated Press typically does not identify victims of sexual assault unless they choose to do so.
Judge’s Remarks and Defendant’s Response
Jessica Peterson said the defendant had exploited his role as a spiritual leader.
“You preyed on these women’s trusts and their spirituality, and you manipulated them for your own personal gratification,” she said.
Chasing Horse, wearing a Clark County Detention Center uniform, remained silent during much of the proceedings but rejected the outcome when given an opportunity to speak.
“This is a miscarriage of justice,” he told the court.
He will be eligible for parole after serving 37 years.
Allegations and Trial Evidence
Prosecutors said Chasing Horse used his reputation as a Lakota medicine man to gain access to victims and subject them to abuse over an extended period.
Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci told jurors that for nearly two decades he “spun a web of abuse” affecting multiple women.
Testimony presented during the trial described how victims encountered Chasing Horse through ceremonies or sought him out for healing.
Prosecutors alleged that he used those interactions to manipulate and assault them.
Chasing Horse denied the allegations, and his legal team challenged the credibility of key witnesses. A motion for a new trial was filed and later denied.
Ongoing Cases in Canada
Authorities in Canada have also brought charges against Chasing Horse.
Prosecutors in British Columbia said he was charged with sexual assault in connection with an alleged incident in 2018 near Keremeos.
Proceedings in that case were paused following his arrest in the United States and later resumed.
A separate warrant remains active in Alberta, according to the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service, which said it is coordinating with provincial prosecutors.
Impact on Victims
Several victims and family members told the court that the abuse had affected their faith and trust in spiritual practices.
“Even to this day I struggle to regain my faith and spirituality,” said Lynnette Adams, the mother of one victim.
Another victim, Siera Begaye, described ongoing health complications and her efforts to move forward.
“I am choosing to see this moment as a fresh start,” she said. “I will rebuild my life, reclaim my voice and continue fighting for the future I deserve.”
The sentencing concludes a case that drew attention across Indigenous communities in North America, with further legal proceedings expected in Canada.
