The indictment escalates what began as a state misdemeanor case into a federal prosecution, days after a judge ordered DeFoor held without bail pending trial — and the same week state charges against him were dropped.
A federal grand jury indicted William D. DeFoor, 26, of Cincinnati on three counts Wednesday in connection with the Jan. 5 vandalism of Vice President JD Vance’s Cincinnati home, the Associated Press reported.
The indictment charges DeFoor with damaging government property, engaging in physical violence against any person or property in a restricted building or grounds, and assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers. DeFoor faces up to 10 years in prison on each of the first two charges and up to 20 years on the third.
What prosecutors allege
Federal prosecutors allege the Secret Service observed someone run along the front fence of Vance’s residence in Cincinnati’s East Walnut Hills neighborhood just after midnight on Jan. 5, then breach the property line. The person later identified as DeFoor was allegedly armed with a hammer and attempted to break the window of an unmarked Secret Service vehicle before moving to the front of the home and breaking 14 historic window panes. Damage to security enhancements around the windows was valued at $28,000, according to a federal affidavit.
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that DeFoor must remain incarcerated pending trial.
State charges dropped; defense cites mental health
Separate vandalism, criminal trespass, criminal damaging and obstruction charges initially brought against DeFoor in state court — mostly misdemeanors — were dropped Friday.
Defense attorney Paul Laufman declined to comment on the indictment. Laufman has previously said the situation represents “purely a mental health issue” and that his client was not motivated by politics.
Vance has thanked the Secret Service and Cincinnati Police for their work on the case. He declined to speculate on a motive, calling DeFoor “clearly a very sick individual.”