Father-Son Duo Terrorized Father's Partner, Neighbor With Machete, Loaded Gun: DA

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A strange case of domestic abuse and feuding neighbors has resulted in felony charges against a Westchester father and son, according to prosecutors.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced on Wednesday that 47-year-old Donald Thomas and 25-year-old Sincere Thomas, a father and son from New Rochelle, were both charged in a 19-count indictment with several felonies after investigators say they repeatedly menaced the father's partner and a neighbor, at times using a machete and a loaded gun.

According to court documents, on Jan. 13, after a dispute with a neighbor, Donald Thomas punched his partner in the face and allegedly pulled a pocket knife on the neighbor. He then tried to slash the neighbor with a machete, prosecutors said.

After the neighbor went back inside his apartment, Donald Thomas had his son, Sincere Thomas, join him to assist with the campaign of harassment, according to the DA's office.

Investigators say that Donald Thomas at one point pulled a gun on his partner and tried to have her draw the neighbor back out of his apartment, in front of an 8-year-old child. The father-son duo then headed for the neighbor's door, where Sincere Thomas slashed the door with a machete and Donald Thomas shot at the door with a gun, according to the criminal complaint.

The Thomases then fled the scene, according to authorities. The following day, after Donald Thomas was captured by police, Sincere Thomas threatened his father's partner with a kitchen knife in front of the 8-year-old, according to the allegations.

The father and son were arraigned on the charges Tuesday morning, when they both pleaded not guilty.

Donald Thomas was charged with: five felony counts of third-degree criminal possession; three felony counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; one felony count of first-degree reckless endangerment; one felony count of criminal possession of a firearm; two misdemeanor counts of second-degree menacing; one misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child; one misdemeanor count of second-degree reckless endangerment; one misdemeanor count of third-degree assault; and a violation of second-degree harassment.

Sincere Thomas was charged with: four felony counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon; two felony counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; one felony count of first-degree reckless endangerment; one felony count of criminal possession of a firearm; one misdemeanor counts of second-degree menacing; one misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child; and one misdemeanor count of second-degree reckless endangerment.

Prosecutors requested that the judge raise the amount of bail previously set for Donald Thomas and set a cash bail amount for Sincere Thomas, who was released on his own recognizance. However, the judge maintained the previous bail amount for Donald Thomas and maintained the ROR status for Sincere Thomas.

The Thomases are scheduled to return to court on March 17.

"The sheer volume of charges in this indictment reflects the severity and unrelenting nature of the defendants' alleged conduct," Cacace said. "What began as a simple dispute spiraled needlessly into a multipronged conflict, including alleged acts of menacing and harassment, putting innocent lives at risk and endangering the welfare of a young child."

"All too often, intimate partners are subjected to everyday violence and suffer through it in silence," Cacace added. "I am proud of the partner in this case for speaking up. The entire New Rochelle community is safer today because of her courage."

The investigation was conducted by the New Rochelle Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant DA Paige Pirtle and Domestic Violence Deputy Bureau Chief Janelle Armentano.