American actor Nathan Chasing Horse has been sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls. 

Appearing before a Nevada court on Monday, the actor was convicted by a jury on 13 charges related to the abuse of three women. 

His sentencing took place before Judge Jessica Peterson.

During the hearing, survivors and their families spoke about the lasting emotional and psychological toll the abuse had caused. 

They told the court they continue to struggle with their faith, accusing the actor of exploiting his standing as a spiritual figure to harm vulnerable victims.

According to the AFP, one of the survivors, Corena Leone-LaCroix, said she was just 14 when the assaults began. 

In a statement read in court, she described the lasting impact on her life, saying she had been robbed of the core moments of her youth.

“There is no way to get back the youth, the childhood loss, my first time, my first kiss, the graduation I never got to have,” she said.

“The life that little girl could have lived has been taken from me forever.”

Under the sentence, the 49-year-old actor will be eligible for parole after serving 37 years. 

He consistently denied the allegations and maintained his innocence during the proceedings. 

“This is a miscarriage of justice,” he told the court.

Before passing sentence, Ms Peterson told the actor that he preyed on women’s spirituality, saying, “You manipulated them for your own personal gratification.”

The judge, as she handed down the life sentence, said she was struck by his refusal to accept responsibility despite the evidence presented during the trial.

The actor rose to fame as a teenager in the 1990 film “Dances With Wolves,” where he played “Smiles A Lot” alongside Kevin Costner.

In later years, he presented himself as a spiritual leader.