Dances with Wolves actor and alleged cult leader arrested on sex abuse claims - The Guardian US

Las Vegas constabulary connected Tuesday arrested and raided the location of a Dances With Wolves histrion turned alleged cult person accused of sexually assaulting young Indigenous girls implicit 2 decades, according to constabulary records.

Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse, who goes by Nathan Chasing Horse, was taken into custody successful the day adjacent the northbound Las Vegas location helium is said to person shared with his 5 wives.

Swat officers were seen extracurricular the two-story location successful the evening arsenic detectives searched the property.

Known for his relation arsenic the young Sioux people subordinate Smiles a Lot successful the Oscar-winning Kevin Costner movie from 1990, Chasing Horse gained a estimation among tribes crossed the US and successful Canada for performing healing ceremonies and spiritual gatherings. Police allege helium utilized his presumption to maltreatment young Indigenous girls.

His apprehension is the culmination of a months-long probe that began aft constabulary received a extremity successful October 2022. According to a 50-page hunt warrant, Chasing Horse is believed to beryllium the person of a cult known arsenic the Circle.

State attorneys wide and lawmakers astir the US are looking into creating specialized units to grip cases involving Indigenous women.

In South Dakota, the lawyer general’s bureau renewed absorption connected crimes against Indigenous people, including quality trafficking and murders.

Las Vegas constabulary person identified astatine slightest six alleged victims and uncovered intersexual allegations against Chasing Horse dating to the aboriginal 2000s successful states including Montana, South Dakota and Nevada, wherever helium has lived for astir a decade.

There was nary lawyer listed successful tribunal records for Chasing Horse who could remark connected his behalf arsenic of Tuesday evening.

Chasing Horse was calved connected the Rosebud Reservation successful South Dakota, which is location to the Sicangu Sioux, 1 of the 7 tribes of the Lakota nation.

According to the warrant, helium was banished successful 2015 from the Fort Peck Reservation successful Poplar, Montana, amid allegations of quality trafficking.

“Nathan Chasing Horse utilized spiritual traditions and their content strategy arsenic a instrumentality to sexually battle young girls connected galore occasions,” it reads, adding that his followers believed helium could pass with higher beings and referred to him arsenic “Medicine Man” oregon “Holy Person”.

Although the warrant includes details of crimes reported elsewhere, the apprehension stems from crimes allegedly committed successful Clark county, Nevada. They see enactment trafficking, intersexual battle of a kid younger than 16 and kid abuse.

Some of the alleged victims were arsenic young arsenic 13, according to the warrant. One of Chasing Horse’s wives was allegedly offered to him arsenic a “gift” erstwhile she was 15, portion different became a woman aft turning 16.

Chasing Horse besides is accused of signaling intersexual assaults and arranging enactment with the victims for different men who allegedly paid him.