An individual accused of vandalizing the Ohio home of Vice President JD Vance was behind bars Tuesday and was awaiting action in separate state and federal cases, according to court proceedings described by the Associated Press.
William D. DeFoor, 26, appeared in two different courtrooms after being detained early Monday by Secret Service agents assigned to Vance’s Cincinnati home in the upscale East Walnut Hills neighborhood east of downtown. The vice president and his family were not home, the report said.
A federal affidavit filed in court says the Secret Service saw someone run along the front fence of Vance’s residence and breach the property line around midnight. The person later identified as DeFoor was described in the affidavit as armed with a hammer, attempting to break out the window of an unmarked Secret Service vehicle as it traveled up the driveway before moving toward the front of the home and breaking its glass windows.
The filing, as reported, said fourteen historic window panes were broken and that damage was done to security enhancements around the windows valued at $28,000.
On the state side, a judge set bonds totaling $11,000 on charges including vandalism, criminal trespass, criminal damaging and obstruction of official business in Hamilton County court. The report said DeFoor had previously been deemed incompetent to face trial on a 2023 criminal trespassing charge and had been referred for treatment after a 2024 vandalism charge. A grand jury hearing was scheduled for Jan. 15.
In federal court in Cincinnati, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Ohio’s southern district brought charges of damaging government property, engaging in physical violence against property in a restricted area and assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers. The report said the first two charges are each punishable by up to 10 years in prison, while assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years. A federal hearing was set for Friday to determine whether DeFoor could be released on bond from the Hamilton County jail.
DeFoor’s defense attorney, Paul Laufman, said in county court that his client was not motivated by politics, calling the alleged conduct “purely a mental health issue.” Outside federal court, the defendant’s mother, Catherine DeFoor, delivered a statement in which she said “mental illness is a terrible thing” and that the family’s lives “are full of stress and sadness and grief,” offering prayers for the Vances and their children.
In a separate interview Tuesday, Vance said on “The Scott Jennings Show” that his family had left town a few hours before the attack, adding, “We have stronger winds than most because I’m a protectee of the Secret Service.” He said the person hammered the windows “but eventually realized they weren’t getting anywhere, ran off, and were captured by the Secret Service as they tried to escape.” Vance said he would let the investigation play out before commenting on possible motive, and called the suspect “clearly a very sick individual.” He also said, “There are crazy people out there and we’re thankful for the Secret Service and the grace of God that we’re still here to do the job that we can.”