Here’s What We Know About Jacob Hoggard’s Arrest and Sexual Assault Charges
Jacob Hoggard, the 34-year-old lead singer of Canadian pop-rock group Hedley, has been arrested and charged with multiple sex crimes. Here’s what we know:
His arrest is part of an ongoing investigation
Police first confirmed that its sex crimes unit had launched an investigation into Hoggard on March 16. After a four-month investigation, Toronto police arrested and charged the Hedley frontman on Monday morning. In a joint statement released by the Toronto police and the Peel Regional Police, it is stated that Hoggard has been charged with two counts of sexual assault causing bodily harm and one count of sexual interference. (Under the Criminal Code, the charge of sexual interference is only laid if the alleged victim is under the age of 16.)
The investigation will continue, as Police are concerned there are more victims than those included in the charges.
At this time, the alleged assaults involve two victims
According to the statement, the alleged assaults occurred on three separate dates in 2016 and involved two different women. CBC confirmed that one of the alleged victims — a former Algonquin College student who’s now 25 — is linked to the charges. The woman contacted CBC early this year to share her graphic story of alleged assault, which ran February 25, 2018 and now has 13,000 shares online. At the time, Hoggard denied the allegations in a statement from his lawyer, calling the sexual encounter “consensual.”
The alleged victim spoke with CBC again after Hoggard’s arrest. “I cried,” she said. “I just feel like maybe some sort of justice is going to prevail regardless of whether or not he’s convicted. People actually believe.”
There’s a mugshot
Not only have Toronto Police arrested and charged Hedley's Jacob Hoggard, they've taken the unusual step of releasing a mugshot: https://t.co/aMfezwwGuS (h/t @iamSas) pic.twitter.com/ACCPoYPA3j
— Jonathan Goldsbie (@goldsbie) July 23, 2018
Twitter is pleased…
Lol it’s about time Jacob Hoggard was arrested. Let’s keep scum off the streets
— heather (@navigatetherisk) July 23, 2018
Yo FUCK Jacob Hoggard. I am actually SO angry – this was someone I looked up to for FIFTEEN YEARS. I am SO proud of the women who spoke up. NO ONE in his position should EVER misuse their power to intimidate and abuse females. Fuck you dude.
— b (@brittcMD) July 24, 2018
saw Jacob Hoggard trending….I've officially lost all respect for this man I can't believe I defended that pile of shit when the allegations first came out I've loved hedley since I was a teenager but no more cause Jacob Hoggard is a pile of steaming shit
— Jillian (@mjgurl26) July 23, 2018
…but if you look, you can find fans who are standing by Hoggard
@JacobHoggard ️. We are still here for you. You got this we love you! ️️?
— J (@juanitachamp) July 23, 2018
Still isn’t proven and I still believe @JacobHoggard
— Kimmee (@kimloveshedley) July 23, 2018
Hedley has taken an “indefinite hiatus”
On February 28, Hedley tweeted that they would be dismantling the band “indefinitely” in light of the numerous allegations against Hoggard, which include rape.
On the same day, Hoggard shared his own statement to his personal Twitter account: “The way I’ve treated women was reckless and dismissive of their feelings. I understand the significant harm that is caused not only to the women I interacted with, but to all women who are degraded by this type of behaviour. I have been careless and indifferent and I have no excuse. For this I am truly sorry.”
It’s not over yet
Hoggard will appear in court on Thursday, July 26. Hoggard surrendered himself to the police, but it’s unclear if he will plead guilty to the charges laid against him.
The post Here’s What We Know About Jacob Hoggard’s Arrest and Sexual Assault Charges appeared first on FASHION Magazine.