Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard sentenced to 5 years in prison

Warning: This story contains disturbing details

Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a Toronto hotel room six years ago.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Gillian Roberts delivered the verdict Thursday morning, noting that she accepts the victim’s account “in its entirety.”

The Crown had called for a six to seven year sentence in the case, while the defense wanted Hoggard to be kept behind bars for just three to four years.

The defense argued that a psychiatric report indicated that Hoggard had a low risk of recidivism and a good chance of rehabilitation, while the Crown indicated he was a danger to the public and needed to be held in custody.

Coming to her verdict, Roberts said she had to consider the trauma inflicted on the victim as well as the enduring impact the 2016 sexual assault had on her life.

“She’s a different person than when she visited Mr. Hoggard,” Roberts remarked.

The judge found that Hoggard had no criminal record and produced 52 letters from individuals attesting to his “good character”.

However, she said the verdict must be “commensurate with the seriousness of the offending conduct.”

A sketch of Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard handcuffed after being sentenced to five years in prison on October 20, 2022 (John Mantha). “It must be sufficient to reflect the inherent harmfulness of rape that is manipulative and particularly degrading,” she said.

Roberts also ordered that Hoggard be granted a 10-year ban on gun ownership and placed on the sex offender registry for the next 20 years.

Hoggard was still able to walk despite his prison sentence. He has since filed an appeal and is expected to appear before the Ontario Court of Appeals later today, where he will seek his release while the appeal is heard.

This is breaking news. A previous version of this story appears below.

Ontario Superior Court Judge Gillian Roberts will deliver her verdict in the sexual assault case involving Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard on Thursday morning.

The Hedley frontman could be sentenced to up to 14 years in prison, but the Crown have indicated they plan to seek six to seven years in prison.

Although Hoggard was still able to walk despite his prison sentence. He has since filed an appeal and, following his conviction, is expected to appear before the Ontario Court of Appeals, where he will seek his release while the appeal is heard.

The third day of Hoggard’s sentencing hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. today at the University Avenue Courthouse.

The court first met on Oct. 6, where the victim, an Ottawa woman whose identity cannot be released under a publication ban, issued a powerful statement saying her life was “torn beyond recognition” by the attack ” became. The victim is suing Hoggard for $2.8 million.

The hearing continued for a second day on October 14 via Zoom. That day, Hoggard was given an opportunity to speak before he was sentenced, but declined.

Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard proceeds through security at the Toronto Courthouse for sentencing on Thursday, October 20, 2022. He was found guilty of sexually assaulting an Ottawa woman earlier this year. THE CANADIAN PRESS / Tijana Martin

Back in 2018, the singer was charged with two counts of sexual assault involving physical harm and one sexual disorder after she allegedly violently and repeatedly raped two complainants, one of whom was a minor, in the fall of 2016. Prosecutors also alleged that Hoggard also groped the girl after a Hedley concert in April 2016 when she was 15.

He pleaded not guilty to all three counts.

On June 5, Hoggard was found guilty of sexual assault causing physical harm in the case involving the adult woman, but was acquitted of the same charges in connection with his alleged involvement with a teenage fan.

At that time, he was also found not guilty of charges of sexual interference, which also related to interactions he allegedly had with the underage girl.

Prosecutors had requested that the court set Hoggard’s bail pending his sentencing.

Jacob Hoggard leaves court after being found guilty of one count of sexual assault in Toronto on Sunday, June 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Instead, the day after the verdict was handed down, the judge imposed a stringent set of conditions on his release because “the prospect of a long prison sentence clearly increases the incentive to escape.” Roberts also cited the need to maintain public confidence in the administration of justice to make that decision.

Hoggard’s wife, Rebekah Asselstine, who is one of two guarantors supervising his bail compliance, pledged $200,000 for his bail.

Last March, Hoggard, who was born and raised in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, was charged with sexual assault related to another incident that reportedly took place on June 25, 2016 in Kirkland Lake, Ontario have caused. He has denied the allegations and has said through his attorney that he intends to plead not guilty.

A pre-trial hearing was held in a northeastern Ontario court on October 17. Another performance is planned for October 27th.