Article content material
LAS VEGAS — A “Dances With Wolves” actor charged with sexually abusing Indigenous girls and ladies for greater than a decade has requested Nevada’s excessive courtroom to toss his sweeping indictment in state courtroom.
Commercial 2
Article content material
Nathan Chasing Horse and his attorneys have argued that his accusers wished to have intercourse with him.
Article content material
The 46-year-old’s enchantment to the state Supreme Court docket, filed Tuesday, marks his newest try to get his case dismissed as he stays jailed in Las Vegas on fees that might ship him to jail for many years — or life — if convicted.
“Nathan is pursuing this extraordinary writ as a result of the trial courtroom refused to dismiss the costs contained throughout the indictment on this case,” Deputy Clark County Public Defender Kristy S. Holston wrote in an affidavit hooked up to the formal enchantment to the excessive courtroom.
The presiding decide within the state’s case, Carli Kierny, upheld Chasing Horse’s indictment final month, writing in an order that prosecutors in Clark County introduced sufficient proof for “an inexpensive grand juror to conclude that the sexual assaults occurred.”
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
His trial had been set to start Could 1, however Kierny put a pause on prison proceedings indefinitely as Chasing Horse appeals her choice.
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
“Extraordinary aid is warranted right here as a result of Nathan has no plain, speedy and ample treatment within the abnormal course of the regulation,” his lawyer wrote in Tuesday’s submitting. “The trial courtroom’s rulings have uncovered petitioner to prison legal responsibility for legally inadequate fees.”
Chasing Horse, who is understood for his work in Kevin Costner’s Oscar-winning film, was arrested Jan. 31 in southern Nevada, the fruits of a monthslong investigation by Las Vegas police after receiving a tip from Canadian authorities. He’s charged with 18 felonies, together with sexual assault of a minor, youngster abuse and kidnapping.
Commercial 4
Article content material
Since starring within the 1990 movie, Chasing Horse had constructed a reputation for himself amongst tribes within the U.S. and Canada as a self-proclaimed medication man. Authorities have accused him of utilizing that place to steer a cult, acquire entry to weak Indigenous girls and ladies, and take underage wives beginning within the early 2000s.
His arrest in Nevada surprised Indian Nation and helped authorities in different jurisdictions corroborate allegations towards him. Chasing Horse additionally faces prison fees in Canada, the U.S. District Court docket in Nevada, and on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana.
His attorneys argued Tuesday that, past the query of Chasing Horse’s guilt, the enchantment presents a possibility for the excessive courtroom to make clear confusion in state regulation relating to definitions of consensual intercourse and non secular steering, amongst different issues.
Feedback
Postmedia is dedicated to sustaining a vigorous however civil discussion board for dialogue and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Feedback might take as much as an hour for moderation earlier than showing on the positioning. We ask you to maintain your feedback related and respectful. We’ve enabled e-mail notifications—you’ll now obtain an e-mail should you obtain a reply to your remark, there’s an replace to a remark thread you observe or if a person you observe feedback. Go to our Neighborhood Pointers for extra info and particulars on find out how to alter your e-mail settings.
Be a part of the Dialog