Former Hedley frontman and Canadian Idol competitor Jacob Hoggard was sentenced to five years behind bars on Thursday after being found guilty of sexual assault..The Crown wanted a six-to-seven-year sentence, which is above the normal range for someone without a criminal record..Hoggard’s defence argued three-to-four years should be the sentence as he is at a low risk to re-offend and can easily rehabilitate back into society once released.. Jacob Hoggard .In 2016, Hoggard sexually assaulted an Ottawa woman in a Toronto hotel room, which the victim said will haunt her for the rest of her life at Hoggard’s sentencing hearing..Also, Hoggard had been charged with sexual assault causing bodily harm and sexual interference with a teenage girl..Hoggard had pleaded not guilty to all the charges..The Ottawa woman said Hoggard choked her and that the sexual assault lasted for hours..Hoggard admitted to consensual “passionate” sex with both individuals, and spitting and slapping could have happened but did not choke the women..During the sentencing hearing earlier this month, the Ottawa woman said “I was never the same after that day. A part of me died that day that I will never get back.”.She said the sexual assault filled her with despair and paralyzed her with fear for months..It took the jury six days to find Hoggard guilty of sexual assault causing bodily harm in the Ottawa woman’s case but twice found itself deadlocked on some charges.
