Full Analysis Summary
Actor convicted of sexual assault
A Las Vegas jury on Friday convicted 49-year-old actor Nathan Chasing Horse, best known for his role in Dances With Wolves, on 13 of 21 charges.
The charges alleged sexual assaults of Indigenous women and girls, many involving a victim prosecutors say was 14 when the abuse began.
He faces a minimum of 25 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11.
Coverage Differences
Tone and emphasis
Most outlets report the same basic facts (conviction, 13 of 21 counts, Dances With Wolves credit, sentencing exposure) but differ in emphasis: Malay Mail and ABC News highlight the age of a primary victim and the spiritual‑authority allegations, South China Morning Post foregrounds the allegation that he told the 14‑year‑old he was healing her mother, while Fox News frames the case as exposing “years of hidden abuse.” These are reporting choices rather than contradictions in the core fact of conviction.
Alleged spiritual authority abuse
Prosecutors told jurors the defendant used his public identity as a self-described Lakota medicine man and spiritual claims to coerce victims, including a 14-year-old he allegedly told that spirits demanded she give up her virginity to save her sick mother.
They described a pattern of abuse spanning roughly two decades.
Defense attorneys disputed eyewitness evidence, challenged accusers' credibility, and said they will seek a new trial.
This paragraph summarizes prosecutorial theory about exploitation of spiritual authority and the defense response.
Coverage Differences
Narrative detail and reported allegations
Asian outlets like Malay Mail and saskNOW and investigative outlets such as Casino.org and ABC News give detailed descriptions of prosecutors’ allegations that spiritual coercion was used (e.g., claiming spirits required sex to save a sick mother). Associated Press similarly reports prosecutors’ language but frames the defense pushback by quoting counsel calling the lead accuser a “scorned woman.” The variance is in how explicitly each source repeats the coercion allegation and how they present the defense response.
Trial and context
The trial lasted roughly 11 days and included testimony from three women, including minors, as prosecutors sought to show a pattern of abuse.
Jurors acquitted Chasing Horse on several counts linked to a later period when the principal accuser was described as older or living with him.
Defense attorneys say they will seek a new trial, citing lack of eyewitness testimony.
Multiple outlets have framed the case in the context of growing attention to violence against Native women.
Coverage Differences
Scope and contextual framing
Western mainstream outlets (ABC News, Associated Press) explicitly situate the verdict within wider concerns about violence against Native women and native‑rights context, while other outlets (Telegraph India, Complex) focus more narrowly on the conviction and trial mechanics. Some regional outlets (South China Morning Post, saskNOW) emphasize the victim’s age and the acquittals on later charges; the Associated Press snippet even uses a different first name for the defendant (“Nicholas”), indicating small inconsistencies across reports.
Cross-border probe update
Prosecutors and investigators say the convictions conclude only part of a broader probe.
Authorities in other U.S. jurisdictions and in Canada are reviewing related allegations.
Prosecutors say videos recovered in a January 2023 police raid led to additional charges that were refiled in 2024.
Those parallel inquiries mean British Columbia prosecutors have said they will await U.S. proceedings before deciding next steps.
This paragraph explains the cross-jurisdictional investigations and evidence developments reported by some outlets.
Coverage Differences
Coverage of follow‑up investigations
Some outlets (Casino.org, ABC News, Malay Mail, South China Morning Post) explicitly report ongoing or refiled charges, video evidence from a 2023 raid, and that Canadian prosecutors are awaiting the U.S. outcome; other outlets focus less on cross‑border procedural detail and more on the trial verdict itself. These differences reflect varying depth of legal reporting and investigative detail.
Courtroom Reactions Overview
Victims and supporters reacted emotionally as the guilty verdicts were read.
Prosecutors and Clark County officials said the outcome sends a message that exploitation will not be tolerated.
Defense counsel criticized the evidence and said they will file motions for a new trial.
News coverage varied, highlighting victims’ reactions, the prosecutor’s statement, and the defense’s promise to appeal or seek retrial.
This summarizes courtroom reactions and post‑verdict positions.
Coverage Differences
Tone and focus in reaction coverage
Some outlets (Malay Mail, ABC News) emphasize victims’ emotional reactions and the prosecution’s message of accountability; others (Associated Press, saskNOW) give more space to defense challenges to credibility and motions for retrial. Fox News again notes prosecutors’ framing of “hidden abuse,” showing consistent emphasis on the alleged longevity of the misconduct in some mainstream U.S. sources.