Jacob Hoggard

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Jacob Hoggard

| image = Jacob Hoggard in performance (2008).jpg

| caption = Hoggard performing in 2008

| birth_name = Jacob William Hoggard

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|07|09|mf=yes}}

| birth_place = Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

| origin = Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

| instrument = Vocals, guitar, piano

| genre = {{hlist|Rock|pop|pop punk|pop rock}}

| occupation = Singer, musician, songwriter

| years_active = 2004–2018

| current_member_of =

| past_member_of = Hedley

}}

Jacob William Hoggard (born July 9, 1984) is a Canadian former musician who was the lead singer for the pop rock band Hedley. Hoggard competed on the second season of Canadian Idol in 2004, where 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. After an appeal was dismissed, Hoggard began serving a five year sentence. He was found not guilty of a third charge of sexual assault by a jury in northeastern Ontario.

Early life

Jacob Hoggard was born on July 9, 1984, in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.{{cite web|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/idol/CTVShows/20050906/CI2_JacobHoggard_competitorpage |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051214092649/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/idol/CTVShows/20050906/CI2_JacobHoggard_competitorpage |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 December 2005 |title=Jacob Hoggard's Canadian Idol Profile |website=CTV |access-date=7 February 2011}} He was raised in Abbotsford, British Columbia, and Surrey, British Columbia.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.dose.ca/music/Interview+Hedley+Refuses+Idol/2721819/story.html?cid=dose_nav_drop |title=Interview: Hedley Refuses to Be Idol |magazine=Dose |author=Heath McCoy |date=24 March 2010 |access-date=7 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327033704/http://www.dose.ca/music/Interview+Hedley+Refuses+Idol/2721819/story.html?cid=dose_nav_drop |archive-date=27 March 2010 }} He is of partial Italian origin.{{cite web|first=Liz|last=Walker|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/rock-star-jacob-hoggards-workout-a-little-too-hard-core/article1054848/|title=Rock star Jacob Hoggard's workout a little too hard-core|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|publisher=The Woodbridge Company|location=Toronto, Canada|date=28 April 2008}} He was educated in Surrey, British Columbia, at Senator Reid Elementary School and Mennonite Educational Institute, Yale Secondary School in Abbotsford and at L.A. Matheson Secondary School, he was also in the City Central Learning Centre.[http://www.movietome.com/people/309674/jacob-hoggard/trivia.html "Jacob Hoggard"] {{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Movie Tome. Retrieved 19 November 2007. Before appearing on Canadian Idol, Hoggard worked as a construction worker.

Career

In 2003, Hoggard formed the band Hedley with Kevin Giesbrecht, Kevin Heeres, Ryan Federau, and Brandon McKay. Hoggard eventually started his career on Canadian Idol,{{cite web|url=https://www.cp24.com/news/hedley-frontman-jacob-hoggard-will-now-stand-trial-in-april-1.5257073|title=Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard will now stand trial in April|date=7 January 2021|website=CP24|author=Kayla Goodfield|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107125856/https://www.cp24.com/news/hedley-frontman-jacob-hoggard-will-now-stand-trial-in-april-1.5257073|archivedate=January 7, 2021|access-date=May 18, 2021}} who was challenged by his bandmates to appear on the show.{{cite web|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hedley-band|title=Hedley (band) - The Canadian Encyclopedia|website=The Canadian Encyclopedia|author=Betty Nygaard King|date=May 21, 2015|access-date=July 31, 2023}} He appeared on the second season of the show and auditioned in Vancouver after he had "been dragged to the audition after work" by his high school sweetheart performing "Forever in Blue Jeans".{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/broken-idol-the-early-star-power-warning-signs-and-eventual-conviction-of-jacob-hoggard|title=Broken idol: The early star power, warning signs and eventual conviction of Jacob Hoggard|website=The National Post|author=Charles Johnston|date=June 13, 2022|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20220613210222/https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/broken-idol-the-early-star-power-warning-signs-and-eventual-conviction-of-jacob-hoggard|archivedate=June 13, 2022|access-date=March 16, 2025|url-status=live}} He advanced to the top 30 performing Billy Joel's "Only the Good Die Young". He soon made it to the top ten where he sang the songs "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" and "Space Oddity". Hoggard placed third on the show.{{cite web|url=https://www.stalbertgazette.com/national-news/canadian-musician-jacob-hoggard-found-not-guilty-of-sexual-assault-9612467|title=Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard found not guilty of sexual assault|website=St. Albert Gazette|publisher=The Canadian Press|author=Paola Loriggio|date=October 4, 2024|access-date=March 16, 2025}}

After Canadian Idol, he re-formed Hedley with Dave Rosin, Tommy Mac and Chris Crippin and signed to Universal Music Canada in 2005.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/hedley-mn0000513860/biography|title=Hedley Biography by Jason Ankeny|website=AllMusic|author=Jason Ankeny|access-date=July 31, 2023}} The band later released their debut single "On My Own", which reached number one on the Canadian Singles Chart.{{cite magazine|url= https://www.billboard.com/artist/hedley/chart-history/cns/|title=Hedley Chart History (Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales)|magazine=Billboard|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221093002/https://www.billboard.com/music/hedley/chart-history/cns/|archivedate=December 21, 2019|access-date=May 18, 2021}} They released the album's Hedley, Famous Last Words and The Show Must Go in 2005, 2007 and 2009, respectively. Hoggard went on to produce the band's next four studio releases, Storms (2011),{{cite AV media notes|title=Storms|others=Hedley|year=2011|type=booklet|publisher=Universal Music Canada|id=}} Wild Life (2013),{{cite news|url=https://torontosun.com/2014/02/21/hedleys-jacob-hoggard-enjoying-the-wild-life|title=Hedley's Jacob Hoggard enjoying the 'Wild Life'|newspaper=Toronto Sun|author=Jane Stevenson|date=February 21, 2014|access-date=November 10, 2024}} Hello (2015){{cite web|url=https://lfpress.com/2016/04/18/hedley-takes-a-role-in-fight-against-cancer|title=Hedley takes a role in fight against cancer|newspaper=The London Free Press|author=Lynn Saxberg|date=18 April 2016}} and Cageless (2017).{{cite magazine|url=https://www.socanmagazine.ca/features/hedley-constantly-inconstant/|title=Hedley: Constantly Inconstant|author=Karen Bliss|magazine=SOCAN Magazine|publisher=Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada|date=October 2, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805013818/https://www.socanmagazine.ca/features/hedley-constantly-inconstant/|archivedate=August 5, 2020|access-date=September 7, 2024}} He also co-wrote many of the group's hits including "Crazy for You", "Perfect", "For the Nights I Can't Remember" and "Anything".{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jacob-hoggard-mn0000561120|title=Jacob Hoggard Songs, Albums, Credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=March 16, 2025}} Hoggard along with Brian Howes was nominated at the 2014 Juno Awards for Producer of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://junoawards.ca/awards/past-winners-nominees/?search_year_val1=1970&search_year_val2=2021&search_category_val=&search_wins_val=no&tag_search_val=Jacob+Hoggard&submit=submit|title=Past Nominees + Winners - The Juno Awards|publisher=Juno Awards|access-date=April 13, 2025}}

In 2008, he co-wrote the songs "Tonight, I Love You" and "Kids" for Canadian pop rock band The Latency.{{Cite AV media notes|title=Chomp!!|others=The Latency|year=2008|type=booklet|publisher=MapleMusic Recordings}} In 2010, Hoggard part taken in Young Artists for Haiti to perform a rendition of K'naan's "Wavin' Flag".{{cite web|url=http://blog.muchmusic.com/watch-young-artists-for-haiti-wavin-flag/|title=Watch Young Artists For Haiti's 'Wavin' Flag'|website=MuchMusic|date=March 12, 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317003605/http://blog.muchmusic.com/watch-young-artists-for-haiti-wavin-flag/|archivedate=March 17, 2010|access-date=March 4, 2024}} The song topped the Canadian Hot 100.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2010-03-27|title=Billboard Canadian Hot 100: The week of March 27 2010|magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 18, 2021}} In 2012, he also took part in Artists Against Bullying to record and release a remake of Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" for Bullying Awareness Week.{{cite web|url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/music/artists-against-remake-true-colors|title=Artists Against remake True Colors|website=The Gazette|date=November 12, 2012|access-date=June 5, 2021}} Hoggard hosted the Juno Awards of 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2015/02/24/jacob-hoggard-is-host-of-2015-juno-awards.html|title=Jacob Hoggard is host of 2015 Juno Awards|newspaper=The Toronto Star |date=24 February 2015 |access-date=May 18, 2021}} He co-wrote the single "Highway" by Canadian rock band Bleeker.{{cite web|url=https://themusicexpress.ca/bleeker-a-constant-learning-experience/|title=Bleeker: A Constant Learning Experience|website=The Music Express|author=Keith Sharp|date=November 22, 2016|access-date=March 16, 2025}}

Personal life

Hoggard married his high school sweetheart in 2005, which ended in divorce in 2009.Stevenson, Jane (29 December 2009). "[https://lfpress.com/entertainment/music/2009/12/29/12295586.html Hedley singer gets personal with new CD] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028043153/http://www.lfpress.com/entertainment/music/2009/12/29/12295586.html |date=28 October 2017 }}", London Free Press. Retrieved 18 December 2011. Hoggard married Canadian actress Rebekah Asselstine on December 31, 2018, at the age of 34.{{cite web|url=https://etcanada.com/news/402201/report-hedleys-jacob-hoggard-gets-married-on-new-years-eve/|work=Entertainment Tonight Canada|title=Report: Hedley's Jacob Hoggard Gets Married On New Year's Eve|access-date=January 2, 2019|first=Shakiel|last=Mahjouri|date=January 1, 2019|archive-date=2 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102083103/https://etcanada.com/news/402201/report-hedleys-jacob-hoggard-gets-married-on-new-years-eve/|url-status=dead}} Hoggard along with Hedley, partnered with Free The Children, travelling to Kenya in 2010 and India in 2011, promoting awareness about poverty and helping those in need.{{cite magazine|url=https://faze.ca/whats-important-to-hedley/|title=What's Important To Hedley|author=Dana Krook|magazine=Faze|access-date=December 7, 2024}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.samaritanmag.com/musicians/hedley-singer-jacob-hoggard-tames-his-wild-life-free-children|title=Hedley Singer Jacob Hoggard Tames His Wild Life With Free The Children|magazine=SamaritanMag|author=Karen Bliss|date=December 18, 2013|access-date=March 16, 2025}} He also became the ambassador for the Canadian Cancer Society and precursor to WE Charity.{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/giving/hedley-frontman-jacob-hoggard-finds-meaning-in-giving-back/article32349106/|title=Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard finds meaning in giving back|website=The Globe and Mail|author=Deirdre Kelly|date=October 13, 2016|access-date=March 16, 2025}}

Sexual offenses

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.{{cite web |last1=Hughes |first1=Josiah |title=Hedley Were Allegedly Investigated for Drugging Underage Concertgoer |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/hedley_were_investigated_for_allegedly_drugging_underage_concertgoer |website=Exclaim Magazine |date=15 February 2018|access-date=7 November 2018}}

In March 2018, he announced that he would be stepping away from his music career indefinitely following Hedley's tour.{{cite tweet|number=969029088798298112|user=JacobHoggard|title=It's time to speak for myself, as I should have done from the beginning…|date=1 March 2018}} 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 British Columbia.{{cite tweet|number=1529103933456760832|user=ConsumerSOS|title=Criminal defence lawyer @megan_savard has called Hoggard after telling jury that sex was consensual with two women…|date=24 May 2022}}{{cite web | url=https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ts/news/gta/2022/05/24/sex-assault-trial-of-hedley-frontman-jacob-hoggard-resumes-tuesday.html | title=Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard testifies that sexual encounters with complainants were 'passionate' and consensual | date=24 May 2022 }}

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.{{cite web| url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4348427/hedley-jacob-hoggard-sexual-assault-charges/ |title=Hedley singer Jacob Hoggard charged with sexual assault|website=Global News|date=July 23, 2018}} Originally scheduled for November 28, 2018,{{cite web |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4639446/jacob-hoggard-hedley-court/ |title=Sexual assault case of Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard put over to Nov. 28|website=Global News|date=November 7, 2018}} his trial was postponed several times and eventually began on May 2, 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-02 |title=Sex assault trial getting underway for Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/sex-assault-trial-getting-underway-for-hedley-frontman-jacob-hoggard-1.5884391 |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=CTVNews |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-06 |title=Judge imposes stricter bail conditions on Jacob Hoggard in light of verdict |url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/judge-imposes-stricter-bail-conditions-on-jacob-hoggard-in-light-of-verdict-1.5934428 |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=Toronto |language=en}} The jury also acquitted Hoggard of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old child who was a fan and one count of sexual interference.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/hoggard-trial-decision-1.6474833 |title=Former Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard found guilty of sexually assaulting Ottawa woman |last= |first= |date=5 June 2022 |website=www.cbc.ca |publisher=CBC |access-date=5 June 2022 |quote=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...}} On October 20, 2022, Hoggard was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting an Ottawa woman.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-20 |title=Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard sentenced to 5 years in prison |url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/hedley-frontman-jacob-hoggard-sentenced-to-5-years-in-prison-1.6117123 |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Toronto |language=en}}

Hoggard was also charged in March 2022 with sexual assault causing bodily harm regarding 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/jacob-hoggard-new-sex-assault-charge-1.6470872 |title=New charge against Jacob Hoggard surfaces as he awaits verdict in sex assault trial |last=Trinh |first=Judy |date=31 May 2022 |website=www.cbc.ca |publisher=CBC |access-date=5 June 2022 |quote=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.}} This accuser testified in September 2024 that Hoggard allegedly raped, hit and choked her before urinating on her in a hotel room after a Hedley concert.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-25 |title=Tearful complainant alleges Jacob Hoggard raped, choked her after Hedley concert |url=https://www.thealbertan.com/ontario-news/tearful-complainant-alleges-jacob-hoggard-raped-choked-her-after-hedley-concert-9568879 |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=The Albertan |language=en}} Hoggard was acquitted of the charge on October 4, 2024.{{Cite news |date=2024-10-04 |title=Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard found not guilty of sexual assault |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-judge-to-give-final-instructions-to-jury-in-jacob-hoggards-sexual/ |access-date=2024-10-05 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}

On August 16, 2024, Ontario's top court upheld the sexual assault conviction of Hoggard, dismissing his appeal and confirming his five-year prison sentence. It was confirmed that he has started to serve his sentence behind bars.{{Cite news |last=The Canadian Press and CBC News |title=Court upholds musician Jacob Hoggard's sex assault conviction |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jacob-hoggard-appeal-dismissed-1.7296632}} On September 13, Ontario's top court dismissed Hoggard's application for bail, leading Hoggard to attempt an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-13 |title=Ontario's top court dismisses application for bail from Jacob Hoggard |url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-s-top-court-dismisses-application-for-bail-from-jacob-hoggard-1.7036957 |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Toronto |language=en}}{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/jacob-hoggard-verdict-1.7343094 |title=Jury finds Jacob Hoggard not guilty of sexual assault |website=CBC News |language=en-CA |access-date=2024-10-04}}