Hoggard grants bail pending appeal on sexual assault conviction

Warning: This story contains disturbing details

Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard has been granted bail pending the outcome of an appeal against his June 2022 sexual assault conviction, in which he was sentenced to five years in prison.

An Ontario Court of Appeals judge’s decision comes hours after the Canadian musician’s conviction.

At 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Hoggard’s attorney Megan Savard, along with Crown Prosecutor Catherine Weiler, met with Justice Grant Huscroft to set out their reasons as to why Hoggard should or should not be released from prison while the appeal is being heard.

After both sides made their submissions, Huscroft said he would notify attorneys once he made a decision. Late Thursday, the judge granted Hoggard’s request for bail.

“Considering that (Hoggard) raises no public safety or air travel concerns and raises reasonable grounds of appeal, I am satisfied under all circumstances that his detention is not required in the public interest,” Huscroft wrote in his decision.

The bail hearing came just hours after Hoggard was sentenced to five years in prison after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting an Ottawa woman in a Toronto hotel room six years ago.

Ontario Supreme Court Justice Gillian Roberts delivered the verdict this 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 the Hedley frontman was at low risk of recidivism and had a good chance of rehabilitation, while the Crown suggested he posed a danger to the public and needed to be held in custody.

Coming to her verdict, Roberts said she considered the trauma inflicted on the victim, whose identity cannot be revealed due to a publication ban, both from the assault and the court proceeding, as well as the lingering effects the sexual 2016 assault on her had life for Hoggard’s “sexual gratification” moments.

“She is a different person than when she visited Mr. Hoggard,” the judge said Thursday.

Noting that Hoggard had no criminal record, Roberts produced 52 letters from individuals attesting to his “good character”.

She said she also took into account that since news of alleged sexual impropriety broke, Hoggard has been viewed as a “recognizable pariah,” leading to him and his family being afraid to go public.

Additionally, Roberts said the $2.8 million lawsuit filed by the victim on Oct. 6, the first day of the hearing, would “hang” Hoggard and his family for a long time, “maybe forever.” “.

Nonetheless, Roberts said the verdict must be “proportionate to the seriousness of the offending conduct.”

“It must be sufficient to reflect the inherent harmfulness of a manipulative and particularly degrading rape. … The bigger picture must be recognized and considered in sentencing,” she said, calling the attack “abhorrent” and noting that the victim feared for her life and was forced to endure several hours of violent intercourse and humiliation. Hoggard admitted in court that he didn’t use a condom.

Roberts also pointed out that in a subsequent conversation with the victim, Hoggard tried to “gas it up” and wanted to create a “specific narrative.”

After asking Hoggard to stand up and accept his sentence, Roberts thanked defense attorneys and QC for their “very effective and competent” handling of this case, then wished him “good luck”.

Hoggard then hugged and kissed his wife, Rebekah Asselstine, before being handcuffed and led out of the courtroom.

Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard arrives at the Toronto courthouse for sentencing on Thursday, October 20, 2022 after being found guilty of sexually assaulting an Ottawa woman earlier this year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin

In addition to sentencing Hoggard to five years in prison, Roberts also ordered him to be given a 10-year gun ban and put him on the sex offender registry for the next 20 years.

Speaking to reporters outside the University Avenue Courthouse after the sentencing hearing, QC Kelly Slate commended the jury for their “diligence in this matter” and Roberts for their “fairness.”

Slate also credited the two “very brave” complainants for coming forward and speaking to police and testifying against Hoggard at both the preliminary hearing and trial.

In 2018, Hoggard was charged with two counts of sexual assault involving assault and one sexual disorder after he allegedly violently and repeatedly raped two women, one of whom was a minor, in the fall of 2016. Prosecutors also claimed he also groped the girl after a Hedley concert in April 2016 when she was 15.

He pleaded not guilty to all three counts.

CONTINUE READING: Jacob Hoggard’s chronicle of sexual assault allegations, trials and convictions

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.

“This is undoubtedly a very difficult process, but it is necessary,” Slate said.

“Mr. Hoggard’s condemnation and judgment sends a message to the community that sexual violence is not tolerated by our community, by anyone.”

A sketch of Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard handcuffed after being sentenced to five years in prison on October 20, 2022 (John Mantha).

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.