Suspect who allegedly vandalized JD Vance’s Cincinnati home faces federal charges
CINCINNATI (WXIX) - A man is in custody facing several federal charges after he allegedly vandalized Vice President JD Vance’s Cincinnati home and vehicle early Monday morning.
William DeFoor, 26, is accused of running up to Vance’s house, located on William Howard Taft Drive, and breaking four windows with a hammer, according to an arrest report. He also caused damage to the vice president’s vehicle.
A U.S. Secret Service agent witnessed the incident. When the agent asked DeFoor to stop, the suspect took off running, the arrest report says.
Secret Service then asked for Cincinnati police to respond to the home at 12:15 a.m., stating that the suspect was on the run, a dispatcher confirmed with FOX19 NOW.
The Department of Justice says DeFoor walked up the driveway to the home and attempted to break the driver-side window of an unmarked federal law enforcement vehicle blocking the path.
DeFoor allegedly refused law enforcement’s commands to stop and used his hammer to break widows across the front of the house and damaged security systems.
The estimated damage to property is around $28,000.
The 26-year-old was later detained by Secret Service, and booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center early Monday.
Monday night, U.S. District Judge Dominick Gerace brought three charges against DeFoor:
- Damaging government property
- Engaging in physical violence against any person or property in a restricted building or grounds
- Assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers
The DOJ says causing more than $1,000 in damage to federal property is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers carries up to 20 years in prison.
Vice President JD Vance and his family were not in Ohio when the vandalism occurred.
“The U.S. Secret Service is coordinating with the Cincinnati Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office as charging decisions are reviewed,” a statement from Secret Service says.
I appreciate everyone’s well wishes about the attack at our home. As far as I can tell, a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows. I’m grateful to the secret service and the Cincinnati police for responding quickly.
We weren’t even home as we had returned already to DC.
One request to the media: we try to protect our kids as much as possible from the realities of this life of public service. In that light, I am skeptical of the news value of plastering images of our home with holes in the windows.
JD Vance statement on X
Retired Secret Service agent Denny Schlindwein says, based on his time with the agency, he thinks the security around Vance could be increased.
“I do know enough about the Secret Service; they don’t play games, especially in this day and age,” Schlindwein said. “They’ll probably heighten the security depending on their conversation with that guy.”
Court records show DeFoor is facing four local charges:
- One count obstructing official business (second-degree misdemeanor)
- One count of criminal damaging or endangering (second-degree misdemeanor)
- One count of criminal trespass (fourth-degree misdemeanor)
- One count of vandalism (fifth-degree felony)
This is not DeFoor’s first time facing criminal charges.
In April, he pleaded guilty to two counts of vandalism after he caused more than $2,000 worth of damage to a Hyde Park interior design company, court documents say.
DeFoor was sentenced to treatment at a mental health facility for two years and was required to pay $5,550 in restitution.
The suspect will be arraigned in Hamilton County Municipal Court Tuesday.
A high bond is recommended due to his criminal history, according to the arrest report.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Recent Posts
