Ohio man accused of vandalizing JD Vance’s home pleads guilty
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges in Vandalism of Vice President Vance’s Cincinnati Home
CINCINNATI — A 26-year-old Ohio man pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to charges related to the January vandalism of Vice President J.D. Vance’s protected residence in Cincinnati, federal prosecutors announced. The incident, which occurred on January 5, involved significant property damage and drew a strong response from federal law enforcement.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, William D. Defoor used a hammer to break multiple windows at the unoccupied home, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damages. Among the destroyed items were components of an enhanced security system installed on the windows, which are owned by the federal government and were valued at over $28,000. Prosecutors said Defoor also damaged an unmarked federal law enforcement vehicle parked in the driveway by striking its driver-side window three times.
At the time of the incident, Vice President Vance and his family were in Washington, D.C. Secret Service agents, who were monitoring the property, detained Defoor around midnight after observing him near the front fence. Charging documents indicate that Defoor ignored commands to stop and drop the weapon during the confrontation. He was later apprehended by Secret Service agents and Cincinnati police officers after attempting to flee on foot.
Defoor pleaded guilty to two federal counts: assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, and willful injury or depredation of U.S. government property. His defense attorney has previously stated that the act was not politically motivated and attributed it to Defoor’s ongoing mental health struggles. Court records confirm a long history of legal entanglements in Hamilton County, including prior findings of mental incompetency.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II condemned the attack, emphasizing that individuals who threaten the safety and security of government officials will face prosecution. “Perpetrators like Defoor, who put that freedom at risk, particularly through violent, destructive actions, will, like here, be vigorously prosecuted,” Gerace said. He went on to state that violence against political leaders and their property has no place in society and undermines democratic institutions.
Defoor’s past includes several interactions with law enforcement and mental health services. In April 2023, he was charged with trespassing at the University of Cincinnati Health Psychiatric Emergency Services after allegedly refusing to leave. He was later found incompetent to stand trial, and the case was dismissed. The previous year, he faced two counts of vandalism for breaking windows at a Hyde Park business; that case was referred to a mental health docket and resolved through court-ordered treatment rather than conviction.
Hamilton County Court subsequently granted Defoor’s mother legal guardianship, citing his documented mental illness and incompetence. Since the January incident, Defoor has been in custody. His sentencing is pending, and no sentencing date has yet been set.
