The Parole Board of Canada rejected Jacob Hoggard’s bid for full parole this month as a result of it discovered the previous Hedley frontman, now convicted sexual offender, requires skilled supervision.
The board as an alternative granted Hoggard six months of day parole at a midway home, saying in a ruling launched this week that he should take a look at the progress he’s made in jail extra steadily.
The 2-member panel additionally imposed plenty of circumstances on his launch, together with some that weren’t really helpful by the Correctional Service of Canada.
One such situation is that he not be within the presence of women beneath the age of 18 until accompanied by a accountable grownup who is aware of of his legal historical past and has been accepted by his parole officer.
The 41-year-old singer is serving a five-year jail sentence after he was discovered responsible in June 2022 of sexual assault inflicting bodily hurt towards an Ottawa lady.
He was additionally acquitted in that trial of the identical cost and one other of sexual interference towards a teenage fan.
In its ruling, the board stated it might contemplate allegations that didn’t result in conviction in assessing the danger Hoggard could pose in the neighborhood.
Throughout his listening to, Hoggard denied participating in any non-consensual acts other than the one which led to his conviction, the ruling stated.
The previous musician additionally instructed the panel he had “no understanding” of consent and didn’t even give it some thought when going into sexual encounters, the doc stated.
“The board has issue seeing how, with no understanding of consent mixed with the quite a few sexual encounters you had, your admitted view on the time of girls as objects, and your curiosity in violent and degrading sexual behaviour, the index offence was the one time you crossed a boundary,” the panel wrote.
The sexual assault Hoggard was discovered responsible of “seems to have been a part of a sample of manipulation, predation, and sexual violence,” the board continued, noting the similarities between that incident and others that had been reported.
Hoggard’s behaviour “demonstrates a substantial lack of self management which has had a devastating influence on victims,” it stated.
The board discovered Hoggard made progress on the subject of accountability whereas serving his sentence, although many of the enchancment befell not too long ago.
Hoggard maintained his innocence even after his enchantment was dismissed in 2024, and solely admitted to behaving aggressively throughout consumption on the establishment, the board stated.
At his listening to earlier this month, nevertheless, the singer stated he knew he had carried out one thing unsuitable when allegations towards him first emerged, however denied them out of worry and embarrassment, the ruling stated.
Hoggard, who lived along with his household whereas on bail awaiting his sentence, solely not too long ago admitted his guilt to his spouse, the doc stated, citing a report from April of this 12 months.
The panel listed that among the many causes for denying Hoggard full parole, which he sought to spend residing along with his spouse, son and oldsters.
“Although your spouse and household stay supportive, you may have proven your willingness and skill to deceive them for years such that the board believes you require skilled, arm’s size supervision,” it concluded within the doc.
“Any positive factors you may have made whereas serving sentence ought to first be examined in a gradual and structured method earlier than a extra liberal type of launch.”
Allegations of sexual misconduct involving Hoggard first surfaced in early 2018, and he was charged within the Toronto case that summer season. Hedley went on an indefinite hiatus that 12 months and Hoggard has since stated they disbanded.
Throughout his 2022 Toronto trial, Hoggard was charged with sexual assault in an alleged incident in Kirkland Lake, Ont. Two years later, a jury acquitted him in that matter after lower than six hours of deliberations.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed June 16, 2026.
Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press
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