Cincinnati man pleads guilty to vandalizing Vice President Vance's home
William D. DeFoor, 26, admitted to smashing windows and damaging a federal vehicle at the vice president's residence.
3 reports on this incident · first at Sep 1, 2026, 5:55 p.m. ET
Earlier reports
Sep 1, 2026, 10:22 p.m. ET
Cincinnati man pleads guilty to vandalizing Vice President Vance's home
A Cincinnati man pleaded guilty in federal court on September 1, 2026, to vandalizing Vice President JD Vance's Cincinnati home, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
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. According to court documents, around midnight on Jan. 5, Secret Service agents observed DeFoor running along the front fence of the protected residence. He breached the property line, attempted to break the driver's side window of an unmarked federal law enforcement vehicle, and used a hammer to strike the vehicle window three times. He then broke large historic glass windows across the front of the residence, causing damage to enhanced security assets valued at approximately $28,000, the U.S. Attorney's Office reported.
DeFoor was charged by criminal complaint and indicted by a federal grand jury in January and has remained in custody since his arrest. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Sentencing will be determined by the Court at a future hearing, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Sep 1, 2026, 5:55 p.m. ETFirst report
Cincinnati man pleads guilty to vandalizing Vice President Vance's home
A Cincinnati man pleaded guilty in federal court on September 1, 2026, to vandalizing Vice President JD Vance's Cincinnati home, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
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. According to court documents, around midnight on Jan. 5, Secret Service agents observed DeFoor running along the front fence of the protected residence. He breached the property line, attempted to break the window of an unmarked federal vehicle, and used a hammer to strike the vehicle window three times. He then broke large historic glass windows across the front of the residence, causing damage to security assets valued at approximately $28,000. DeFoor was detained after attempting to flee.
U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II said, "Acts of violence directed against our political leaders, their families, or property, have no place in our society and will not be tolerated." Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Sentencing will be determined at a future hearing. DeFoor has been in custody since his arrest and was indicted by a federal grand jury in January.
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Revision history
- Version 22 Sept 2026, 07:22current
Updated to reflect the guilty plea and include the official U.S. Attorney's Office press release as a source.
- Version 12 Sept 2026, 02:21
First published.
- Version 11 Sept 2026, 21:55current
First published.
- Version 12 Sept 2026, 02:22current
First published.
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