Nevada
Nevada Supreme Court orders dismissal of Nathan Chasing Horse sex abuse case
The Nevada Supreme Court has ordered the dismissal of a sprawling sex abuse indictment against Nathan Chasing Horse, while leaving open the possibility of charges being refiled in a case that sent shockwaves throughout Indian Country and led to more criminal charges in the U.S. and Canada.
The full seven-member court’s decision, issued Thursday, reverses earlier rulings upholding the charges by a three-member panel of the high court and a state judge. Proceedings in the 18-count criminal case have been at a standstill for more than a year while the former “Dances with Wolves” actor challenged it.
Kristy Holston, the deputy public defender representing Chasing Horse, had argued that some evidence presented to the grand jury, including an improper definition of grooming that was presented without expert testimony, had tainted the state’s case. Holston said prosecutors also failed to provide the grand jury with exculpatory evidence, including inconsistent statements made by one of the victims.
The high court agreed.
“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 court said in its scathing order.
Holston declined to comment further. Prosecutor Stacy Kollins did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
The ruling directs the judge overseeing the case in Clark County District Court to dismiss the indictment without prejudice, meaning the charges can be refiled.
“The allegations against Chasing Horse are indisputably serious, and we express no opinion about Chasing Horse’s guilt or innocence,” the order says.
Chasing Horse’s lawyer had also had argued that the case should be dismissed because, the former actor said, the sexual encounters were consensual. One of his accusers was younger than 16, the age of consent in Nevada, when the alleged abuse began, authorities said.
The 48-year-old has been in custody since his arrest last January near the North Las Vegas home he is said to have shared with five wives. Inside the home, police found firearms, 41 pounds of marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms, and a memory card with videos of sexual assaults, CBS News previously reported. Police said that at least two of the women were underage when he married them: One was 15, police said, and another was 16.
Chasing Horse is best known for portraying Smiles A Lot in the 1990 film “Dances with Wolves.” But in the decades since starring in the Oscar-winning movie, authorities said, he built a reputation as self-proclaimed medicine man among tribes and traveled around North America to perform healing ceremonies. An arrest warrant stated that he is believed to be the leader of a cult called “The Circle,” whose followers believe he can communicate with higher powers, CBS News previously reported.
He is accused of using that position to gain access to vulnerable girls and women starting in the early 2000s.
He also faces criminal sexual abuse charges in at least four other jurisdictions, including U.S. District Court in Nevada and on the Fort Perk Indian Reservation in Montana.
Tribal leaders voted to ban him from the Montana reservation in 2015, citing alleged trafficking and accusations of drug dealing, spiritual abuse and intimidation of tribal members.
Las Vegas police arrested Chasing Horse in January 2023. The arrest helped law enforcement agencies in two countries corroborate long-standing allegations against the former actor. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that police in southern Alberta have been investigating his possible connection to past sexual assaults.
The Nevada Air National Guard in Reno will unveil a 53-foot Christmas tree on Tuesday — a Nevada-grown red fir that will travel across the country to the U.S. Capitol Building.
According to a news release from the Nevada Air National Guard, the tree was grown in the Carson Ranger District and has been temporarily housed at its Reno base. The Guard transported the tree on Sunday for decoration ahead of its whistle-stop tour through Nevada and beyond.
The tree will also appear in Carson City for the Nevada Day Parade on Saturday before continuing its journey east.
The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree initiative is a 55-year tradition in which one of America’s 154 national forests provides a tree for the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol during the holiday season.
Jim Kaufmann, executive director of Capitol grounds and arboretum at the architect of the Capitol, selected this year’s tree from nine candidates identified by Forest Service staff in the Carson Ranger District in northern Nevada and the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area outside Las Vegas.
“Selecting a tree to adorn the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol is a great honor,” Kaufmann said in a previous Forest Service release. “Forest Service staff showed me nine wonderful candidates during my visit. Ultimately, we selected a magnificent red fir to represent the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and Nevada at the U.S. Capitol during the 2025 holiday season.”
The red fir, or Abies magnifica, grows at higher elevations and is known for its blue-green needles that point upward and dense, sturdy branches — ideal for displaying ornaments, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Contact Akiya Dillon at adillon@reviewjournal.com.
After 15 clues and weeks of searching, Greg Saunders of Carson City, along with his wife, 1 year old daughter, and faithful dog, have found the 2025 Nevada Day Treasure Hunt Medallion, ending this year’s hunt with an exciting discovery.
The Nevada Day Treasure Hunt Committee met with the family on Sunday, October 26, at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in Reno to present them with the official medallion and a $1,000 prize.
Now in its 24th year, the Nevada Day Treasure Hunt has become a cherished tradition for families across the state. Each fall, participants decipher daily clues that draw on Nevada’s rich history, culture, and geography to locate a hidden medallion placed somewhere on public land.
“This event really brings people together,” said Michele Montoya of the Nevada Day Treasure Hunt Committee. “It’s about learning Nevada’s history, exploring new places, and enjoying the thrill of the hunt.”
This year’s clues guided hunters across central Nevada, referencing landmarks tied to the Pony Express, the Overland Telegraph, and early settlers. The final clue revealed the treasure’s resting place near the Edwards Creek Valley Historical Marker in Churchill County.
Next year will mark the 25th anniversary of the Nevada Day Treasure Hunt, and organizers are already planning a larger celebration for the milestone event.
For more information and to follow next year’s hunt, visit www.nevadadaytreasurehunt.org, or follow on social media.
Related
Week 9 of the college football season continues with some Friday night action as the Boise State Broncos visit the Nevada Wolf Pack in a Mountain West showdown.
The Broncos come into Friday on a two-game winning streak and are a perfect 3-0 in the Mountain West. They are one of just two teams with no losses in the conference and are looking to soldify themselves as the favorite to win the title again.
The Wolf Pack are on the opposite end of the standings in the Mountain West. They are still searching for thier first conference win and are just 1-6 on the season.
Stream Nevada vs. Boise State
If you’re looking to get back in the swing of football season and need some betting advice for Friday’s matchup in Las Mackay, we’ve got you covered.
Here are the latest odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM.
Nevada vs Boise State game odds:
All college football odds via BetMGM
- Spread: Boise State -21.5 (-110), Nevada +21.5 (-110)
- Money Line: Boise State -2000, Nevada +1000
- Over-Under: Over 51.5 (-115), Under 51.5 (-105)
Nevada vs Boise State prediction, pick:
The Broncos are playing well and have won five of their last six games. Maddux Madsen is playing great at quarterback and the Wolf Pack aren’t going to have any answers for him The line is huge, but the Broncos are that much better than the Wolf Pack and aren’t going to have any problems beating them. They might have this covered in the first half.
Prediction: Boise State 49, Nevada 10
Best Bet: Boise State -21.5, Over 51.5
Nevada vs Boise State channel, start time, streaming:
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
TV Channel: CBS Sports Network
Live Stream: Paramount+
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
Contact/Follow @College_Wire on X and @College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.
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