Jacob William Hoggard (born July 9, 1984) is a former Canadian musician who was the lead singer for the pop-rock band Hedley. Before Hedley was formed, Hoggard competed on the second season of Canadian Idol in 2004 when he placed third.
In 2018, Hoggard was arrested and charged with sexual assault. He has since been found guilty of sexual assault causing bodily harm and sentenced to five years in prison. He is currently out on bail pending an appeal to his conviction; acquitted of sexually assaulting a second, and facing a new, third charge of sexual assault.
Hoggard married his high school sweetheart in 2005, which ended in divorce in 2009.[11] Hoggard married Canadian actress Rebekah Asselstine on December 31, 2018.[12]
Legal issues
In 2005, Hoggard and his band members were suspects in a sexual assault case where a minor was found unconscious and shoeless outside a London, Ontario, venue where the band had played. Rohypnol was present in the victim's blood. The police investigation ended when the victim refused a rape kit and the band sent the venue management a letter stating any discussion of the incident would result in a lawsuit.[13]
In March 2018, he announced that he would be stepping away from his music career indefinitely following Hedley's tour.[14] Since announcing the indefinite hiatus from Hedley following the sexual assault allegations, Hoggard testified in court on May 24, 2022, that he has made a living as a carpenter in B.C.[15][16]
On July 23, 2018, Hoggard was charged with one count of sexual interference and two counts of sexual assault causing bodily harm, involving a child under 16 and a woman.[17] Originally scheduled for November 28, 2018,[18] his trial was postponed several times and eventually began on May 2, 2022.[19] On June 5, 2022, a Toronto jury found Hoggard guilty of sexual assault causing bodily harm against an Ottawa woman in the fall of 2016.[20] The jury also acquitted Hoggard of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old child who was a fan and one count of sexual interference.[21]
Hoggard was charged in March 2022 with sexual assault causing bodily harm in a June 2016 encounter in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. The charge was made public on June 2. Hoggard was scheduled to appear in court on August 4, 2022.[22]
On October 20, 2022, Hoggard was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting an Ottawa woman.[23]
^"Former Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard found guilty of sexually assaulting Ottawa woman". www.cbc.ca. CBC. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022. Canadian rock musician Jacob Hoggard was found guilty of sexual assault causing bodily harm after violently raping an Ottawa woman in the fall of 2016, but a Toronto jury acquitted him of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old fan. The former Hedley frontman was also acquitted of one count of sexual interference...
^Trinh, Judy (31 May 2022). "New charge against Jacob Hoggard surfaces as he awaits verdict in sex assault trial". www.cbc.ca. CBC. Retrieved 5 June 2022. Jacob Hoggard, the former frontman for rock band Hedley, is facing a new rape allegation related to a June 2016 encounter in Kirkland Lake, Ont. Hoggard was charged in March with sexual assault causing bodily harm involving a woman who was 19 at the time. ... Hoggard's next court appearance on the Kirkland Lake charge is scheduled for Aug. 4.