A former child star who leveraged Hollywood fame to allegedly build a cult that sexually exploited Native American girls just sabotaged his own defense days before facing justice.
Hollywood Fame Becomes Predatory Platform
Nathan Chasing Horse parlayed his breakout role as Smiles a Lot in the 1990 Oscar-winning film into something far more sinister than anyone imagined. After his acting career included appearances in “Dreamkeeper” and “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee,” he reinvented himself as a traveling medicine man, using traditional Native ceremonies to build trust within Indigenous communities across the United States and Canada.
The Sicangu Lakota tribal member from South Dakota’s Rosebud Indian Reservation allegedly exploited his Hollywood credibility to position himself as a spiritual authority. Police investigations revealed he operated what prosecutors call “The Circle,” a cult-like organization where he maintained five wives and systematically groomed young Native girls under the guise of providing healing ceremonies.
Courtroom Chaos Reveals Defendant’s Desperation
Chasing Horse’s outburst in Judge Jessica Peterson’s Las Vegas courtroom exposed the panic of a man running out of legal maneuvers. His demand to fire defense attorney Craig Mueller, citing complaints about infrequent visits and untimely filings, reeked of desperation rather than legitimate concern. Mueller had already confirmed his readiness for trial, making the defendant’s theatrics appear calculated to delay proceedings.
Peterson’s swift removal of the disruptive defendant demonstrated judicial authority that Chasing Horse clearly hoped to challenge. His preference for returning to a previous public defender suggests internal friction within his defense team, possibly over strategy disagreements as the overwhelming evidence mounts against him. The judge’s refusal to postpone the trial signals that courtroom manipulation tactics have reached their limit.
Pattern of Abuse Spans Decades and States
The charges paint a disturbing picture of systematic exploitation beginning in the early 2000s. A police tip in October 2022 triggered investigations that uncovered at least six victims, with evidence showing one girl was assaulted at age 13. The January 2023 SWAT raid on his North Las Vegas home, where he had lived for over a decade, yielded substantial evidence of multi-state abuse patterns.
Victim Janessa Lambert’s 2018 assault allegation in British Columbia illustrates how Chasing Horse’s operation crossed international boundaries. Her case stalled in Canadian courts, highlighting the jurisdictional challenges that likely emboldened the defendant. Federal complaints for child exploitation and pornography, plus outstanding warrants in Canada and Montana, reveal the scope of his alleged criminal enterprise that prosecutors describe as sending “shock waves across Indian Country.”
Sources:
Wikipedia – Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse
IMDb – Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse
IMDb Biography – Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse