Las Vegas Prosecutors to Recharge Chasing Horse After High Court Ruling

Posted on: September 27, 2024, 12:20h. 

Last updated on: September 27, 2024, 12:20h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Clark County prosecutors reportedly plan to once again charge Nathan Chasing Horse after the Nevada Supreme Court this week dismissed prior sex charges against the actor.

Prosecutors can ask another grand jury for new indictments against him, because the state’s top judges said the dismissal was done “without prejudice.”

Chasing Horse, 48, of North Las Vegas, Nev., was facing 18 counts of alleged sexual abuse. The victims reportedly were Native American girls and women.

He was arrested in January 2023, and is still in custody at the Clark County Detention Center as of Thursday.

Prosecutor, Judge Erred

The charges against him were dismissed by Nevada’s top court because of statements by a prosecutor to the prior grand jury and rulings by a lower court judge.

When appearing before the grand jury, the prosecutor used the word “grooming” to explain how Chasing Horse was acting toward the victims. But “grooming” isn’t a crime under state law, the judges explained.

Also, the prosecutor didn’t provide “exculpatory” evidence to the grand jury. That included conflicting statements by one of the victims.

In addition, the judge hearing the case ruled against a pretrial habeas petition.

The combination of these two clear errors undermines our confidence in the grand jury proceedings and created intolerable damage to the independent function of the grand jury process,” the Supreme Court said in its ruling.

Disappointed in Court Ruling

There was disappointment about the ruling.

We are disappointed with the decision, but we respect the decision of the court,” Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson was quoted by Las Vegas TV station KLAS. “This shouldn’t cause too much of an interruption in our efforts to seek justice.”

Melissa Leone, the mother of Ren Leone, one of the victims, told KLAS said her daughter “felt a little defeated” after hearing about the ruling.

“But I … know that she’s been speaking with … the people that [are] in charge of things going on right now and I feel like after watching her receive those phone calls, that there was a bit of more confidence and just, okay, everything’s still okay. We’re still going forward.”

It’s been a long and challenging process but we remain hopeful and will advocate for a refile,” a second victim, Sierra Begaye, told KLAS.

Begaye’s mother, Lynette Adams, added in a statement about the victims, “While this ruling may come as a surprise, it presents a critical opportunity to reset the course of justice and ensure that their voices, and their pain, are given the careful consideration they deserve.”

Together, we will continue to advocate for fairness, compassion, and truth until a rightful conclusion is reached.”

Earlier, Chasing Horse was indicted in Clark County on 10 counts of sexual assault against a minor under the age of 16, six counts of sexual assault, as well as open and gross lewdness, first-degree kidnapping of a minor, and trafficking in a controlled substance. The drug charge was dismissed.

He pled not guilty to the charges. In 2023, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled against an earlier appeal brought by his attorneys.

Chasing Horse also has charges pending in federal court, as well as charges in Montana and Canada.

He appeared in the movie “Dances with Wolves.” Chasing Horse portrayed a character, Smiles a Lot, in the 1990 Kevin Costner film.

He also was the leader of what some have described as a cult, called “The Circle.” Many of the victims saw him as a healer.