William DeFoor, 26, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to smashing windows at Vice President JD Vance’s Cincinnati home. The New York Post — Politics reported the man admitted to causing willful injury during the court hearing.
DeFoor faces up to 30 years in prison for using a hammer to break glass at the residence. NBC News confirmed the incident happened on January 5 while the Vice President and his family were in Washington, D.C.
Prosecutors stated DeFoor first tried to break an unmarked federal vehicle window before attacking the house. He caused $28,000 worth of damage to the historic property before police arrested him on foot.
US Attorney Dominick Gerace II called for strict consequences for such violent acts against leaders.
Gerace added that officials must work without fear of threats or vandalism from the public.
Paul Laufman, the attorney defending DeFoor, stated that the assault was unrelated to the vice president’s specific details. The New York Post — Politics reported the suspect reportedly used the name “Julia” on social media before his arrest.
Catherine DeFoor, the suspect’s mother, spoke out about her son’s mental health struggles in January. She told reporters that mental illness is a terrible thing that can consume a person’s life.
She explained the pain of watching her child suffer in a way her family never imagined.
DeFoor remains detained in jail pending his formal sentencing date. His father, William, is a well-known pediatric urologist and professor at the University of Cincinnati.
The elder DeFoor lives in a $1.3 million home in the Hyde Park neighborhood.
