Jacob Hoggard Withdraws Appeal

Former Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard has officially dropped his attempt to appeal his 2022 sexual assault conviction in Canada. This development comes shortly after he was acquitted of similar charges in a separate trial.

Details of the Decision

Last Friday, Hoggard, 40, announced that he would discontinue his application to have the matter heard by the Supreme Court of Canada. Coincidentally, that same day, he was found not guilty in a different case concerning allegations stemming from an incident in northeastern Ontario.

Background of the Conviction

In 2022, Hoggard was convicted by a Toronto jury for sexual assault causing bodily harm against an Ottawa woman. However, he was acquitted of sexual interference charges related to a teenage fan. His legal team had previously raised multiple grounds for appeal, notably contesting the trial judge's decision to permit expert testimony from clinical psychologist Lori Haskell regarding the neurobiology of trauma.

Appeal Court Findings

In August, Ontario's Appeal Court noted that while the judge’s error in admitting Haskell’s testimony was acknowledged, this misstep did not lead to any substantial injustice. The court emphasized that any potential prejudice was remedied through the judge's clarification to the jury. They ruled unanimously that there was no substantial wrong or miscarriage of justice resulting from this error.

Prison Sentence and Subsequent Events

Following the dismissal of his appeal, Hoggard commenced serving a five-year prison sentence. His attempts to be released on bail while seeking a review by the Supreme Court were denied.

Timeline of Legal Troubles

Hoggard's legal troubles first made headlines in early 2018, leading to charges in July of that year. New allegations emerged during the trial, resulting in additional charges related to an incident in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. However, jurors cleared him of these charges just last week after a brief deliberation of under six hours.

Impact on Hedley and Hoggard's Career

Since 2018, the band Hedley has been on an indefinite hiatus, a decision that Hoggard confirmed was a result of the mounting allegations against him. The recent developments add another chapter to the tumultuous saga surrounding the musician, whose career has been marred by serious accusations and legal disputes.