Nathan Chasing Horse, the actor best known for his role in the 1990 film Dances With Wolves, is now in a Las Vegas courtroom facing 21 serious sexual-assault charges.
But in opening statements on Tuesday, all eyes weren’t just on the defendant. They were on his defense attorney, Craig Mueller, a seasoned litigator with deep Nevada roots and a long career defending constitutional rights in court.
Mueller told jurors there’s “quite literally no evidence” tying Chasing Horse to the crimes prosecutors allege.
That’s a bold claim in a case charged with emotional testimony and disturbing details. But it’s a claim rooted in Mueller’s outlook on how the law should work.
He’s not just fighting for his client. He’s defending the idea that a person’s freedom can’t be taken without clear proof, not emotion.
A Defender With Deep Nevada Ties
Mueller grew up right here in Las Vegas.
He graduated from Eldorado High School, earned an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Afterward, he served as a Missile and Fire Control Officer in the U.S. Navy, earning commendations for his work in the Persian Gulf.
Mueller later served in the Naval Reserve and received a Navy Achievement Medal for coordinating complex operations overseas.
That military foundation is more than a biography line. It informs how Mueller approaches his work – disciplined preparation, strategic thinking, and respect for rules and evidence.
Those are the traits he brings to the defense table every time he walks into a courtroom.
From Prosecutor to Aggressive Defense Advocate
After law school at the University of Baltimore, Mueller returned to Nevada and joined the Clark County District Attorney’s Office in 1993.
There, he learned trial strategy and courtroom craft from experienced prosecutors. He was later a founding member of the county’s DUI prosecution team.
In 1997, Mueller struck out on his own in private practice.
Over decades, he’s tried hundreds of cases, ranging from DUI defense to major criminal charges.
That practical experience on both sides of the law – prosecution and defense – gives him insight into how to challenge the state’s case effectively.
Mueller also stepped into electoral politics.
In 2018, he ran for Nevada Attorney General, arguing he had the experience and constitutional knowledge to be the state’s top law enforcement officer.
He lost in the Republican primary, but his campaign emphasized limited government, respect for personal rights, and a focus on real public safety.
A Conservative Outlook on Justice
In his attorney general bid, Mueller said public safety and limited government go hand in hand.
He told voters law enforcement needs more support, and the justice system must protect citizens, not big government programs.
He also emphasized stronger prosecution of violent crime and a belief that state law should reflect the will of Nevada voters, not distant federal dictates.
Those themes show up in his defense here, too.
In front of a jury, he’s not just arguing facts about this specific case. He’s reminding jurors that the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, not just tell a convincing story.
That’s a cornerstone of fair trials and individual liberty.
That conservative view – limited government, personal responsibility, and a strong rule of law – resonates with many Nevadans who feel overcriminalization and weak evidence standards can threaten freedom.
Mueller’s work often reflects that mindset: hold the government to its burden, and don’t let fear or emotion replace proof.
In the Courtroom Now
In this trial, prosecutors are presenting testimony and evidence they say links Chasing Horse to crimes dating back years, including allegations involving young people.
Mueller has pushed back hard, arguing much of that evidence is circumstantial and tainted by emotions, not facts.
He even challenged expert testimony about “grooming,” suggesting such concepts aren’t grounded in hard science.
Critics say that kind of defense can sound dismissive of alleged victims.
But Mueller’s role isn’t to score points in public opinion. His job is to make sure a jury decides based on evidence, not emotion – a bedrock principle of American justice.
In communities stretched thin by crime and complexity, that’s a message some see as refreshing rather than defensive.
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