CINCINNATI (WKRC) – The man accused of damaging the home of Vice President J.D. Vance with a hammer had his first day in court.
William Defoor appeared before a judge Tuesday for his arraignment.
He is also scheduled to appear in federal court Tuesday afternoon.
Federal prosecutors say at about 15 minutes after midnight, U.S. Secret Service agents observed the 26-year-old running along Vance’s front yard fence.
Defoor allegedly entered the driveway and attempted to use a hammer to break the driver’s side window of an unmarked federal law enforcement vehicle.
Secret Service says it told Defoor to stop and drop the weapon but he continued up to the home and broke four windows, then allegedly attacked a surveillance system.
The Secret Service said Defoor ran away but was detained by the agents and Cincinnati Police.
Defoor first appeared in municipal court to face state charges which include obstruction, trespassing and felony vandalism.
His attorney said there’s nothing to indicate Defoor was targeting Vance.
“This had nothing to do with the specifics of the vice president as much as it was an expression of someone not in control of his mental health situation,” said the attorney. “I just don’t think there is anything political going on here, judge, it’s purely a mental health issue.”
A Hamilton County judge ordered him held on $11,000 on the local charges. He’s also in jail on a federal holder.
If convicted on the federal charges, Defoor faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
Assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.