Executive Summary
- William D. DeFoor was indicted on three federal charges, including assaulting officers and damaging government property.
- Federal prosecutors allege the suspect caused $28,000 in damages using a hammer to break 14 historic windows.
- Defense attorney Paul Laufman characterizes the event as a mental health issue rather than a politically motivated act.
- A federal judge has ruled that the defendant must remain incarcerated pending trial.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A federal grand jury has indicted a 26-year-old Cincinnati man on multiple charges stemming from the vandalism of Vice President JD Vance’s residence in Ohio earlier this month. The indictment, returned Wednesday, formally charges the suspect with damaging government property and assaulting federal officers during a security breach at the East Walnut Hills property.
According to the three-count indictment, William D. DeFoor faces charges of damaging government property, engaging in physical violence against a person or property within restricted grounds, and assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers. If convicted, DeFoor faces a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison for each of the first two counts and up to 20 years for the third count.
Federal prosecutors allege in an affidavit that Secret Service agents observed an individual, later identified as DeFoor, breaching the property line shortly after midnight on January 5. The filing states that the suspect was armed with a hammer and attempted to shatter the window of an unmarked Secret Service vehicle. He then allegedly proceeded to the front of the residence, breaking 14 historic window panes. Court documents estimate the damage to security enhancements and the property at approximately $28,000.
Defense attorney Paul Laufman, who represents DeFoor, has previously stated that the incident was “purely a mental health issue” and asserted that his client was not motivated by political ideology. Laufman did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the federal indictment. Court records indicate that initial state charges, including criminal trespass and obstruction, were dismissed on Friday to facilitate the federal prosecution.
On Tuesday, a federal judge ordered that DeFoor remain incarcerated pending trial. Vice President Vance has publicly thanked the Secret Service and the Cincinnati Police Department for their response, declining to speculate on a motive while describing the suspect as “clearly a very sick individual.”
Legal Proceedings and Security Implications
The swift transition from state to federal jurisdiction underscores the legal severity attached to security breaches involving executive branch officials. By pursuing federal charges under statutes protecting restricted grounds and federal officers, prosecutors are signaling a zero-tolerance approach to threats against high-profile dignitaries. This case will likely proceed through the federal court system, where the focus will arguably shift toward the defendant’s mental competency and intent, given the defense’s early assertions regarding mental health. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
