A federal grand jury has formally indicted a man accused of carrying out a destructive attack on the Ohio residence of United States Vice President JD Vance. The incident, which caused significant damage, has now moved to the federal court system.
Details of the Federal Indictment
The grand jury returned a three-count indictment on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, against William D. DeFoor, a 26-year-old from Cincinnati. He faces charges of damaging government property, engaging in physical violence on restricted grounds, and assaulting or impeding federal officers. If convicted, DeFoor could receive a sentence of up to 10 years in prison for each of the first two charges and up to 20 years for the third.
According to a federal affidavit, the alleged events unfolded in the early hours of 5 January. Secret Service agents reportedly observed an individual, later identified as DeFoor, breach the property line of Vance's home in Cincinnati's upscale East Walnut Hills neighbourhood. The affidavit states the suspect was armed with a hammer, used it to try to break the window of an unmarked Secret Service vehicle, and then proceeded to smash 14 historic window panes at the front of the house.
Legal Proceedings and Defence
The damage to security enhancements around the windows was valued at $28,000. Following a hearing, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday that DeFoor must remain in custody pending his trial. Meanwhile, separate state-level charges for vandalism, trespass, and obstruction, which were mostly misdemeanours, were dropped last Friday.
Defence attorney Paul Laufman, who is listed as representing DeFoor, has previously characterised the situation as “purely a mental health issue” and stated his client was not politically motivated. Laufman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new federal indictment.
Reaction and Aftermath
On social media and in interviews, Vice President Vance has expressed gratitude to the Secret Service and Cincinnati Police for their handling of the case. He has declined to speculate on a motive for the attack, describing the suspect as “clearly a very sick individual.” The case highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by high-profile political figures and their families.
The indictment marks a significant escalation in the legal consequences for the alleged acts, shifting the focus from local to federal jurisdiction where penalties are substantially more severe.
