Ohio man pleads guilty to vandalizing JD Vance’s house with a hammer
An Ohio man pleaded guilty in federal court to vandalizing Vice President JD Vance’s Cincinnati home with a hammer earlier this year. According to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Ohio, William D. DeFoor, 26, was charged and indicted by a federal grand jury in January, and has remained in custody since his arrest.
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The release said, “William D. DeFoor, 26, pleaded guilty to engaging in acts of physical violence against government officials or property and causing willful injury or depredation to property of the United States.”
“Acts of violence directed against our political leaders, their families, or property, have no place in our society and will not be tolerated. Our elected leaders, at all levels of government, must be permitted to carry out their duties free from threats, vandalism, and other forms of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Perpetrators like DeFoor, who put that freedom at risk, particularly through violent, destructive actions, will, like here, be vigorously prosecuted.”
According to the press release, DeFoor was pursued on Jan. 5th by United States Secret Service (USSS) agents. “Agents observed DeFoor running along the front fence of the protected residence. DeFoor breached the property line at the driveway and attempted to break the driver’s side window of an unmarked federal law enforcement vehicle blocking the driveway entrance. DeFoor used a hammer and struck a vehicle window three times.”
DeFoor refused law enforcement commands to stop and drop his weapon. He began to use a hammer to break large, historic glass windows across the front of the protected residence. According to the statement, “DeFoor’s hammer strikes also caused damage to the enhanced security assets on each window owned by the United States government and valued at approximately $28,000.”
DeFoor then attempted to flee on foot and was detained by USSS agents and Cincinnati police officers. The statement concluded, “Engaging in acts of physical violence against government officials or property and causing willful injury or depredation to property of the United States are each federal crimes punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing.” You can read the full press release here.
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