A federal grand jury has indicted William D. DeFoor, 26, on three charges related to an incident at Vice President JD Vance’s Cincinnati home. The indictment includes damaging government property, engaging in physical violence in a restricted area, and assaulting or impeding federal officers.
DeFoor was initially charged by criminal complaint on January 5. He remains in custody pending trial following an order from the U.S. District Court.
According to court documents, Secret Service agents saw DeFoor around midnight running along the front fence of the protected residence. He allegedly crossed the property line at the driveway and tried to break the driver’s side window of an unmarked federal law enforcement vehicle with a hammer.
Authorities say DeFoor ignored commands to stop and drop his weapon before using the hammer to break glass windows across the front of the residence. The damage included enhanced security assets valued at more than $28,000 owned by the United States government.
DeFoor then allegedly attempted to flee but was detained by Secret Service agents and Cincinnati police officers.
The charges carry significant penalties: causing over $1,000 in damage to U.S. property or engaging in violence in a restricted area can result in up to 10 years in prison for each count, while assaulting or impeding federal officers is punishable by up to 20 years.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Rees, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service; and Cincinnati Police Acting Chief Adam Hennie announced these charges. Executive Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy and Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Timothy S. Mangan are prosecuting this case.
"An indictment contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law," according to officials.
