David DePape (right) appeared in court on Tuesday for the first time since attacking Paul Pelosi (left), the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (middle) (Pictures: AFP/Getty Images/CNN)
The man accused of assaulting Paul Pelosi with a hammer pleaded not guilty to all 10 state charges against him.
David DePape, 42, made his first court appearance on Tuesday afternoon after brutally attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband at their home in San Francisco, California.
State charges against him include: attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, violent felony enhancement, aggravated battery with serious bodily injury, inflict great bodily injury on elderly, elder abuse, first degree burglary, dissuading a victim, damaging or preventing a communication for an emergency call, and threatening public official or family member.
DePape could face 13 years to life in prison on those charges.
David DePape appeared for his arraignment on Tuesday afternoon (Picture: Reuters)
He wore orange jail clothing during his arraignment and his right arm was in a sling from dislocating his shoulder as he was being detained. DePape entered his plea through his lawyer Adam Lipson.
DePape remained silent during the 15-minute hearing, speaking only when Judge Diane Northway asked him how his name is pronounced.
‘Dee-pap,’ he said.
David DePape is charged with breaking into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco home and clubbing her husband in the head with a hammer (Credits: AP)
DePape avoided eye contact with reporters covering the arraignment. Cameras were not allowed in the room.
He is being held without bail.
Lipson said his defense will include investigating his client’s ‘vulnerability to misinformation’.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (right) was not home when her husband Paul Pelosi (left) was attacked (Picture: Shutterstock)
DePape broke into the Pelosi home early Friday and shouted, ‘Where’s Nancy?’ according to police. Discovering that she was not home, DePape pounded her husband with a hammer and fractured his skull and injured his right arm and hands. Paul is expected to make a full recovery.
Northway set DePape’s next hearing for November 4 in San Francisco Superior Court to determine his preliminary hearing date and bail setting.
DePape also faces two federal charges – attempted kidnapping and assault with intent to retaliate against a federal official by injuring or threatening a family member. Those charges announced by the Justice Department on Monday carry up to 50 years in prison.
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David DePape made his first court appearance after attacking Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer.
