(Toronto) The Crown is seeking a seven-year prison sentence for Canadian rocker Jacob Hoggard, convicted of sexually assaulting an Ottawa woman.
Updated yesterday at 6:14 p.m.
The defense, meanwhile, recommended a sentence of three to four years in prison. But the prosecution argues the sentence should be well above the normal range of three to five years for several reasons, including the violent nature of the sexual assault.
At a sentencing hearing on Friday in Toronto, the Crown argued that the Hedley singer posed a risk to society and should spend up to seven years behind bars.
Prosecutor Kelly Slate said a psychiatric report, written after the trial for the defense, shows Hoggard showed no remorse and takes no responsibility for his actions.
The sexual assault took place in 2016 in a Toronto hotel room. The unidentified Ottawa woman told court last week that what happened that day would haunt her for the rest of her life.
Hoggard, 38, had also been charged with sexual assault causing bodily harm to a teenage fan and sexual interference with an underage person, but he was acquitted of those crimes. He had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
His lawyer, Megan Savard, argued that in his pre-trial report requested by the defense, forensic psychiatrist Hy Bloom concluded that Hoggard was at low risk of recidivism, and that he was neither a sexual deviant nor a psychopath.
Dr Bloom concluded that Hoggard’s stardom played a significant role in his sexual conquests — the musician had sex with around 200 people in his life, and “60-70% were fans” of the Hedley band.
However, the Hedley group disappeared when the allegations against Hoggard surfaced in 2018. Psychiatrist Bloom wrote that now that Hoggard’s life as a celebrity is over, it is unlikely that he will find himself again with a admirer.
A limited analysis
But the Crown argued that this analysis was limited, since the psychiatrist had only interviewed Hoggard, his wife, his family and his friends, but not the complainant or the defendant’s ex-companions.
“Since (Hoggard) does not admit any responsibility, the Crown believes that he could get back into this situation and that he represents a risk to society,” prosecutor Slate pleaded on Friday.
The victim testified at trial that Hoggard repeatedly raped her, choked her, swore at her and dragged her into the bathroom. She told the court that she thought she would suffocate to death that day.
After the jury’s guilty verdict, Hoggard told psychiatrist Bloom that he still maintained his innocence, claiming the sexual encounter had been consensual, which the victim flatly denied at trial.
The defense argued that Hoggard should receive a lesser sentence in part because he has no criminal record and great potential for rehabilitation.
Me Savard also stated that part of the complainant’s testimony lacked credibility and reliability. In particular, she pointed out that the woman did not remember if she had been penetrated three, four or five times, and that she also had a penchant for exaggeration.
Hoggard had the opportunity to address the court at those sentencing hearings, but he decided not to on Friday. Sentencing is expected to be handed down on October 20.