![\"William](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/YHBPHJRKGNHGDK4O3PSUA67EUY.jpg\")
William DeFoor, 26, appeared in court, where a judge set his bond at $11,000 on Tuesday.(wxix)<\/p>\nCINCINNATI (WXIX) – The man accused of vandalizing Vice President JD Vance\u2019s Cincinnati home and vehicle did so because of \u201cmental health issues,\u201d his lawyer claims.<\/p>\n
William DeFoor, 26, appeared in court Tuesday, where his lawyer, Paul Laufman, told the judge his client\u2019s mental health was a big factor in what happened Monday at the vice president\u2019s house.<\/p>\n
\u201cMental health, obviously, is a driving factor in this case,\u201d Laufman argued. \u201cHe was doing well, to my understanding. Compliant to all orders of that court until these unfortunate events, which I think it\u2019s safe to say were largely driven by mental health issues.\u201d<\/p>\n
The court orders referenced by Laufman were the two years of mental health treatment DeFoor was ordered to receive following his April arrest and subsequent guilty plea for vandalism, according to Hamilton County Court records.<\/p>\n
William DeFoor, 26, appeared in court, where a judge set his bond at $11,000 on Tuesday.(wxix)<\/p>\n
DeFoor is accused of running up to Vance\u2019s house, located on William Howard Taft Drive, and breaking four windows<\/a> with a hammer, according to an arrest report. He also caused damage to the vice president\u2019s vehicle and tried breaking the driver-side window of an unmarked federal law enforcement vehicle, the Department of Justice says.<\/p>\n Vice President Vance and his family were not in Ohio when the vandalism occurred.<\/p>\n I appreciate everyone\u2019s well wishes about the attack at our home. As far as I can tell, a crazy person tried to break in by hammering the windows. I\u2019m grateful to the secret service and the Cincinnati police for responding quickly.<\/p>\n We weren\u2019t even home as we had returned already to DC.<\/p>\n One request to the media: we try to protect our kids as much as possible from the realities of this life of public service. In that light, I am skeptical of the news value of plastering images of our home with holes in the windows.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n On Tuesday, the judge set DeFoor\u2019s bond at $11,000 for four non-federal charges:<\/p>\n The 26-year-old also faces federal charges brought forth by U.S. District Judge Dominick Gerace:<\/p>\n Following his appearance in a Hamilton County court, DeFoor appeared in federal court, where no cameras are allowed.<\/p>\n He walked into the courtroom, shackled at the waist and ankles, and was seen turning around and smiling at someone behind him.<\/p>\n DeFoor\u2019s mother, Catherine DeFoor, spoke after the court session.<\/p>\n \u201cMental illness is a terrible thing,\u201d the mother said. \u201cIt is a struggle which can take over the life of a beautiful person. Unfortunately, for our child, it has taken over his life in a way that we never could have imagined.\u201d<\/p>\n Catherine DeFoor said growing up, her son was a scholar and straight-A student who received a full college scholarship to study music.<\/p>\n DeFoor\u2019s lawyer did say he doesn\u2019t know if his client even knew he was at Vance\u2019s home early Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cI have no idea,\u201d Laufman said. \u201c[It] could have just as easily been the blow-up display at a car lot. I don\u2019t know, and there\u2019s significant mental health issues that drew his attention to this house.\u201d<\/p>\n [Watch more from FOX19 NOW]<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n How to watch FOX19 NOW on Roku, Fire TV and Apple TV<\/p>\n When DeFoor returns to federal court at 1:30 p.m. Friday, the judge could do one of three things:<\/p>\n If he is found guilty on the three federal charges, DeFoor could spend up to 40 years in a federal prison.<\/p>\n That\u2019s on top of any sentence he might receive in Hamilton County.<\/p>\n Previous Vandalism Charges<\/b><\/p>\n This is not DeFoor\u2019s first time facing criminal charges. <\/p>\n In April, he pleaded guilty to two counts of vandalism after he caused more than $2,000 worth of damage to a Hyde Park interior design company, court documents say.<\/p>\n DeFoor was sentenced to treatment at a mental health facility for two years and was required to pay $5,550 in restitution.<\/p>\n See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
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![\"William](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NP7MOWPZFBAQDI2WQJUT5SUXNI.jpg\")
William DeFoor, 26, is accused of breaking the windows of Vice President JD Vance’s home and causing damage to his vehicle, an arrest report says.(Hamilton County Justice Center)<\/p>\n\n