A federal judge ruled Tuesday that William D. DeFoor, 26, of Cincinnati, must remain jailed while awaiting trial on charges that he attacked Vice President JD Vance’s Cincinnati home with a hammer on Jan. 5. Chief Magistrate Judge Stephanie Bowman issued the detention order, keeping DeFoor in Hamilton County jail ahead of a preliminary hearing set for Jan. 20 in federal district court in Cincinnati.
DeFoor faces three federal charges carrying a combined potential maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. His defense attorney has characterized the incident as “purely a mental health issue” with no political motivation.
CINCINNATI — A federal judge ruled Tuesday that a Cincinnati man charged with attacking Vice President JD Vance’s Ohio home with a hammer must remain jailed while his case proceeds to trial.
Chief Magistrate Judge Stephanie Bowman ordered William D. DeFoor, 26, held in Hamilton County jail pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for Jan. 20 in federal district court in Cincinnati.
DeFoor faces three federal charges: damaging government property, engaging in physical violence against property in a restricted area, and assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers. The first two charges each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; the third carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years.
The Jan. 5 incident
The charges stem from an incident shortly after midnight on Jan. 5, when Secret Service officers assigned to Vance’s home in Cincinnati’s upscale East Walnut Hills neighborhood saw someone run along the front fence and breach the property line.
DeFoor, armed with a hammer, attempted to break the window of an unmarked Secret Service vehicle before breaking windows in the front of the home and damaging a security system, according to court documents. The Vances were not home at the time.
Defense position
Defense attorney Paul Laufman said the case is “purely a mental health issue” and not motivated by politics.