An Ohio man accused of vandalizing Vice President JD Vance's Cincinnati home pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday, admitting to causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage with a hammer. William D. DeFoor, 26, entered the plea to charges of acts of physical violence against government officials or property and willful injury or depredation of U.S. government property, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
The incident occurred Jan. 5, when DeFoor allegedly breached the property line at the driveway of the unoccupied residence and struck the driver's side window of an unmarked federal law enforcement vehicle three times. Secret Service agents responded and ordered DeFoor to stop and drop the weapon, but he ignored the commands and proceeded to break large, historic glass windows across the front of the home, prosecutors said. The attack also damaged components of an enhanced security system on each window, equipment owned by the U.S. government and valued at more than $28,000.
DeFoor was detained around midnight after Secret Service agents observed him near the front fence of the protected residence. Vance and his family were in Washington, D.C., at the time. Agents and Cincinnati police officers eventually apprehended DeFoor after he attempted to flee on foot.
U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II condemned the violence in a statement Tuesday, saying perpetrators who put freedom at risk through violent, destructive actions will be vigorously prosecuted. He added that acts of violence directed against political leaders, their families, or property have no place in society and will not be tolerated.
DeFoor's defense attorney previously said the assaults were not politically motivated and that DeFoor suffers from mental health issues. Court records show a history of criminal cases involving findings of mental incompetency in Hamilton County spanning more than two years. When arrested, DeFoor demanded to be called "Julia," according to FBI sources.
In April 2023, DeFoor was charged with trespassing at University of Cincinnati Health Psychiatric Emergency Services after refusing to leave the premises. He was ruled incompetent to stand trial, and the case was later dismissed. The following year, he faced two counts of vandalism after windows at a Hyde Park business were broken; that case was referred to a mental health docket with treatment ordered in lieu of conviction. Hamilton County Court later approved an application granting DeFoor's mother legal guardianship after finding him incompetent by reason of mental illness.
Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. The charges carry potential federal penalties, though the plea agreement terms were not immediately disclosed in court records.