A federal grand jury indicted William D. DeFoor, 26, of Cincinnati on Wednesday on three federal charges in connection with the vandalism of Vice President JD Vance’s Ohio home. According to federal prosecutors, DeFoor breached the property on Jan. 5 after midnight, armed with a hammer, breaking 14 historic window panes and attempting to damage an unmarked Secret Service vehicle. He faces up to 10 years in prison on each of the first two charges—damaging government property and engaging in physical violence against property in a restricted building—and up to 20 years on a third charge of assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers.
The indictment shifts the case from state to federal prosecution after initial state charges were dropped Friday. A federal judge ruled Tuesday that DeFoor must remain incarcerated pending trial.
William D. DeFoor, 26, of Cincinnati was indicted on three federal charges Wednesday in connection with the vandalism of Vice President JD Vance’s Ohio home.
The indictment charges DeFoor with damaging government property, engaging in physical violence against property in a restricted building or grounds, and assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers. He faces up to 10 years in prison on each of the first two counts and up to 20 years on the third.
The Vandalism Incident
According to a federal affidavit filed in the case, the Secret Service observed DeFoor running along the front fence of Vance’s residence in Cincinnati’s East Walnut Hills neighborhood just after midnight on Jan. 5, then breaching the property line. The affidavit states DeFoor was armed with a hammer and attempted to break out the window of an unmarked Secret Service vehicle on the driveway before moving toward the front of the home and breaking 14 historic window panes. Damage to security enhancements around the windows was valued at $28,000.
Defense Claims and Court Proceedings
Defense attorney Paul Laufman, representing DeFoor, declined to comment on the indictment. He has previously described the situation as “purely a mental health issue” and said his client was not motivated by politics.
After the state dropped vandalism, criminal trespass, criminal damaging and obstruction charges on Friday—most of them misdemeanors—federal prosecutors brought the federal indictment. A federal judge ruled Tuesday that DeFoor must remain incarcerated pending trial.
Official Response
In social media posts and interviews, Vance thanked the Secret Service and Cincinnati Police for their response to the incident. He declined to speculate on DeFoor’s motive but described the suspect as “clearly a very sick individual.”