WHITE PLAINS, NY (September 20, 2022) — Michael Thunderhorse, 56, of Greenburgh, NY pleaded guilty today to Assault — 2nd, a violent D Felony, before Judge Alexandra Murphy in Westchester County Criminal Court. He will be sentenced to four years in state prison and three years of supervised release on Nov. 15, 2022.
Thunderhorse has two open dockets, one in Greenburgh, where he previously pleaded guilty to domestic violence charges against his mother-in-law, his wife, and his daughter, and a second in Yorktown for Contempt.
EDITOR’s NOTE: The ADA said in court that Thunderhorse had cases in Arizona. There is a report online that Thunderhorse was sentenced to 15 years in prison for Aggravated Assault with Enhancements in Arizona. We have reached out to the local county sheriff to confirm this report and get details.
Recent criminal history of Michael Thunderhorse based on police reports and court records:
Yorktown:
On January 16, 2022, Michael Thunderhorse was charged with Criminal Contempt in Yorktown Justice Court. The case remains open. His next appearance in Yorktown is scheduled for September 29, 2022.
Greenburgh:
On July 27, 2021, at about 11 p.m., Greenburgh Police were called to a home with a White Plains address for a domestic violence incident. There were four people involved in the incident: Michael Thunderhorse, his Wife, his Mother-in-law, and the Infant child of Michael Thunderhorse and his Wife, their daughter.
The Wife told GPD Officers she and Michael Thunderhorse had a verbal argument at about 3 p.m. that day. The Wife said that over the duration of the night, Michael Thunderhorse became verbally abusive towards her, and she stated that she left him alone.
The Mother-in-law reported that as the evening continued, Thunderhorse became increasingly violent with her. She said Thunderhorse pushed her into a car and then grabbed her by her throat. She stated that he placed his hand around her neck and applied pressure, which caused her difficulty breathing. The Mother-in-law had visible abrasions on her neck.
The Wife reported that later she went into their bedroom and Thunderhorse was holding the Infant. The Mother-in-law stated that at this time, Thunderhorse threw a phone charger at her and started pushing her out of the bedroom while holding the baby.
The Mother-in-law reported that she witnessed Thunderhorse striking her daughter in her face multiple times with a closed fist, and threw her to the ground.
The daughter told police later that during the altercation with Thunderhorse she passed out, however does not know how she lost consciousness.
The Mother-in-law told police that as she tried to help her daughter, Thunderhorse hit her in her face and head while holding the Infant. She stated that Thunderhorse then left the house with the baby.
Thunderhorse held the Infant in his arms while physically assaulting both women by striking them multiple times. During the altercation, Thunderhorse caused physical injuries to his daughter’s head and face, by holding her when fighting with his Wife and Mother-in-law.
The Mother-in-law reported dizziness, a swollen cheek, pain in her jaw, difficulty opening her mouth and throbbing pain on the side of her head as a result of Thunderhorse hitting her.
Police observed visible marks on the Mother-in-law, including swelling on her nose, abrasions on her neck and arms, and a contusion of the back of her head. She also had visible marks on her, including redness on her face. The Infant displayed abrasions on her head and face.
The Wife, his Mother-in-law and Infant child were all brought to GPD headquarters where they were evaluated by GPD EMS. They were then transported to Westchester Medical Center for further treatment.
GPD officers went back and checked the house. They found Thunderhorse in an upstairs room. He was arrested for Assault – 3rd, Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Blood Circulation, a domestic violence misdemeanor, and Endangering the welfare of a child.
On February 23, 2022, Thunderhorse pleaded guilty as charged before Judge Delores Scott Brathwaite in Greenburgh Town Court. The case was adjourned for sentencing on May 18, 2022.
New Rochelle:
The day after he pleaded guilty to the DV charges in Greenburgh, Michael Thunderhorse in New Rochelle.
On February 24th 2022, a woman was driving Northbound on North Avenue in a Black Honda after leaving a truck driving exam which took place on Anderson Street. She later told police that she believes that she cut someone else off while driving near the train station, where the two lanes turn into one lane. She stated that she was sitting at the light when she was tapped on her shoulder through her open driver’s side window. She stated that then a white or hispanic male with white hair, a white beard and glasses stabbed her in the stomach and went back to his vehicle. She was only able to describe the vehicle that the man was driving as a cream or beige colored vehicle.
She later told police she was just trying to drive home when the pain became unbearable, so she pulled over to call someone to call the police to get her help.
The victim drove from 309 North Avenue to Eastchester Road and Westwood Avenue, a distance of 1.5 miles, after she was stabbed by Thunderhorse.
At about 3:35 pm, New Rochelle Police Officers responded to the vicinity of 309 North Avenue on the report of a stabbing.
Shortly after, a person called NRPD to report they had a received a call from that a woman had been stabbed in her stomach while she was driving in New Rochelle.
NRPD headquarters advised the responding officers that the victim that was stabbed at 309 North Avenue was in a black Honda Civic, which was now parked on the side of Eastchester Road at Westwood Avenue.
The victim, a female in her twenties, was located.
Police observed a large laceration on the lower-left side of her abdomen. The laceration appeared to be approximately 6 inches in length. One Police Officer covered the wound and was able to stop the bleeding.
Ambulance personnel responded and transported the victim to Jacobi Hospital and advised that she had non-life-threatening injuries.
New Rochelle Police Detectives, working with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, developed leads that led to a suspect that lived in Greenburgh, NY.
On March 7th, New Rochelle Detectives, the FBI and Greenburgh PD located and arrested Michael Thunderhorse without incident after he left his home in the morning.
Thunderhorse was charged with Assault — 2nd Degree, a violent D Felony and Criminal Possession of a Weapon — 3rd Degree, a D Felony.
On March 7, unaware Thunderhorse had pleaded guilty to a domestic violence charge in Greenburgh, on March 7, New Rochelle Judge Jared R. Rice set bail for Thunderhorse at $50,000 cash, $100,000 bond or $250,000 partial. Judge Rice gave him a return date of March 10 in New Rochelle City Court.
Thunderhorse posted bail and was released.
On March 8, Thunderhorse appeared virtually before Judge Brathwaite. Aware of the stabbing in New Rochelle, she remanded Thunderhorse to the Westchester County Jail, where he has been incarcerated ever since.
On March 10, to the surprise of Judge Rice, Thunderhorse appeared virtually in New Rochelle City Court from the Westchester County Jail, which is how Judge Rice first learned of the matter in Greenburgh Town Court and the actions of Judge Brathwaite.
Thunderhorse’s sentencing in Greenburgh Town Court has been adjourned multiple times. His next appearance in Greenburgh is scheduled for December 7, 2022.
A spokesperson for the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office said after today’s sentencing that each case will be sentenced separately. Any subsequent sentence Thunderhorse receives will run concurrent to the state prison sentence.
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