A former 害羞草研究所淒ances With Wolves害羞草研究所� actor accused of in the U.S. and Canada for two decades has asked a judge in Nevada to against him in state court.
Nathan Chasing Horse, 46, claims the sexual encounters with two women identified as victims in the Nevada case were consensual. One of them was younger than 16 害羞草研究所� the age of consent in Nevada 害羞草研究所� when she says the sexual abuse began.
Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny said Wednesday that she would issue her decision before the end of the week. She could deny Chasing Horse害羞草研究所檚 request or dismiss some or all of the charges, although she didn害羞草研究所檛 offer any indication as to how she might rule during her questioning of state prosecutors and Chasing Horse害羞草研究所檚 public defender.
A Clark County jury on charges of sexual assault of a minor, kidnapping, child abuse, lewdness and drug trafficking. He has been in custody at a county jail since Jan. 31, when he was arrested by SWAT officers near the home he shared with his five wives in North Las Vegas.
He also faces sexual abuse charges and the in Nevada, as well as on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana.
Prosecutors and police say Chasing Horse, who is known for his portrayal of Smiles a Lot in Kevin Costner害羞草研究所檚 Oscar-winning film, marketed himself to tribes nationwide as a self-proclaimed medicine man who possessed healing powers and could communicate with higher beings. They accuse of him using his position to known as The Circle, gain access to vulnerable girls and women and take underage wives.
The alleged crimes, according to court documents, date to the early 2000s and occurred in Canada and multiple U.S. states, including Nevada, Montana and South Dakota.
Clark County prosecutor Stacey Kollins told the judge Wednesday that Chasing Horse害羞草研究所檚 claims were offensive, pointing to the age that one of the victims says the abuse began.
害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 taken at 14 because her mom is ill, and she害羞草研究所檚 told that her virginity is the only pure part of her left and she has to sacrifice this to maintain her mom害羞草研究所檚 health,害羞草研究所� Kollins said. 害羞草研究所淎nd to gloss over that by calling it transactional and saying there害羞草研究所檚 no proof of non-consent, that害羞草研究所檚 taking a lot of license to meet with the facts.害羞草研究所�
As Kollins spoke, the mother of one of the victims cried in the courtroom gallery, which was packed with Chasing Horse害羞草研究所檚 supporters.
Public defender Kristy Holston argued the 19-count indictment was an overreach by the Clark County district attorney害羞草研究所檚 office and that some evidence presented to the grand jury 害羞草研究所� including a definition of grooming 害羞草研究所� had tainted the state害羞草研究所檚 case.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not the same as a lack of consent,害羞草研究所� she said, adding that 害羞草研究所渁 sex worker, for instance, doesn害羞草研究所檛 desire sex with the client. But their motive for doing it is for something other than desire.害羞草研究所�
Outside the courtroom, Holston declined to further comment, while Kollins did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking additional comment.
Chasing Horse is currently scheduled to stand trial May 1 in the state case. He has pleaded not guilty and invoked his right to a trial within 60 days of his indictment.
He is due back in state court Monday morning for a hearing on another motion asking the judge to grant him three trials. Chasing Horse and his attorneys have argued that the sexual assault allegations and the drug trafficking charge contained in the state害羞草研究所檚 indictment are unrelated.
害羞草研究所擱io Yamat, The Associated Press
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