The Trial of Hedley’s Jacob Hoggard

Written By Lindsay Eldridge

FROM CANADIAN IDOL TO CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER

Content Warning: Extremely graphic details of violent sexual assault and allegations involving a minor.

A five-part podcast series exploring the rise and downfall of a high-profile Canadian musician in the era of #metoo.
We expose the myths and stereotypes around consent, rape, and groupie culture that continue to dominate the social discourse... and unfortunately, our criminal justice system.

As frontman for the popular Canadian pop-rock band Hedley, Jacob Hoggard always attracted attention. Described as having "blinding charisma with a hint of danger", he became known for pushing boundaries—both on and off the stage. By 2022 he would also be known as one of Canada's most notorious sex offenders. How did his behaviour go unchecked for so long?

Resources for Sexual Violence and Abuse:
This series includes graphic descriptions of sexual violence. If you or anyone you know is experiencing sexual violence and abuse, help is available.
REES Community - Canada Sexual Assault Centres by province or postal code
Ending Violence Canada - Sexual Assault Centres, Crisis Lines and Support Services

Canadian True Crime donates monthly to help those facing injustice.
This month we have donated to Good Night Out Vancouver & Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre.

Credits:

Primary research, writing, sound design, narration: Kristi Lee
Research assistance: Eileen MacFarlane of Crimelapse Podcast
Audio editing and production: We Talk of Dreams
Production assistance: Jesse Hawke 
Script consulting: Carol Weinberg
Disclaimer voiced by the host of True
Theme songs by We Talk of Dreams
Other music by Blue Dot Sessions: Game Lands, Bittersweet, Mesmerize, Campsite 9, An Unknown Visitor, Well Water, Pencil Marks, Pigeon Falls, Fissure Forming, The Coal Hollow, Access Road 442, Minister Creek, Access Road 214, Kovd Lask, Sunset at Sandy Isle, Setting Pace, Drizzle, Winter in Black, Our Names Engraved, Gathering Stasis, Access Road 138

Full list of resources and information sources

Media clips licenced from Earbank Media Vault

Court Documents:

Rape myths and stereotypes:

Reporting by Judy Trinh:

Book

Consent in Sexual Activity

Reddit and twitter discussion threads, comments from former fans, examples of hostility towards complainants

The Embassy Hotel, London Ontario

Videos:

All other online resources:

News archives:

  • STEVENSON, JANE. "Hedley show goes on Frontman Jacob Hoggard does a lot of growing as a person and as a songwriter." Toronto Sun, The (Ontario, Canada), December 30, 2009

  • News, CBC. "Toronto police confirm investigation into Hedley singer Jacob Hoggard." CBC (Canada), March 16, 2018. 

  • "Pair poised for Idol fame." Abbotsford News, The (British Columbia, Canada), June 12, 2004

  • MCQUEEN, ANN MARIE. "LOCAL HOPEFULS DOWN TO ONE." Ottawa Sun, The (Ontario, Canada), July 2, 2004 

  • ROSS, MIKE. "JACOB'S WORTH A GAMBLE AT 6 TO 1." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), July 29, 2004

  • "Irreverent Hoggard: A UN gig and pyro dreams." Abbotsford News, The (British Columbia, Canada), August 28, 2004 

  • ANDERSON, ANGELA. "ALBERTAN STILL IN IDOL RACE." Calgary Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), September 10, 2004

  • MCQUEEN, ANN MARIE. "HOGGARD EXITS ON OWN TERMS." Ottawa Sun, The (Ontario, Canada), September 10, 2004

  • "Regrouped band is 'idol's' first love." Abbotsford News, The (British Columbia, Canada), October 23, 2004

  • "Hoggard, Hedley, Heck to perform." Abbotsford News, The (British Columbia, Canada), January 1, 2005

  • "Hoggard, Hedley host all-ages show." Abbotsford News, The (British Columbia, Canada), May 24, 2005

  • BELL, MIKE. "HOGGARD TRYS TO FORGET PAST." Calgary Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), September 28, 2005

  • WUENSCH, YURI. "SIMPLY GOOD MUSIC PUNK, POP OR SOMETHING ELSE, SIMPLE PLAN PUTS ON A GOOD SHOW." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), November 27, 2005

  • ROSS, MIKE. "SHEDDING THE IDOL LABEL FAME, OF COURSE, IS GREAT, BUT SO IS CREATING YOUR OWN IMAGE." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), March 3, 2006

  • WOOD, SHERRI. "CREATIVE CHAOS NO TANKS, BUT STILL PLENTY OF EXCITEMENT AT THE MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS." Toronto Sun, The (Ontario, Canada), June 19, 2006

  • MERRIN, TARA. "ALL IN YOUR HEDLEY." Calgary Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), July 15, 2006

  • JALEES, SABRINA. "Hedley's Hoggard not bowled over by sleazeballs." Toronto Star, The (Ontario, Canada), November 8, 2007

  • TAYLER, THERESA. "Rock band Hedley to make it a PG affair." Calgary Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), April 5, 2008

  • STEVENSON, JANE. "It's Hedley's night B.C. punks will remember these MMVAs." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), June 16, 2008

  • Special to the Star, Nick Krewen. "Hedley: From Idol to Survivor music - Jacob Hoggard got attention on TV, but his band has been happy to earn the rest of the success." Toronto Star, The (Ontario, Canada), April 4, 2010

  • Special to the Star, Chandler Levack. "Hedley is far from perfect - But fans are happy with sensitive emo rockers." Toronto Star, The (Ontario, Canada), March 15, 2012

  • STEVENSON, JANE. "Game for Anything In the spirit of their new album, Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard gets naked for his new video." Calgary Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), February 22, 2014

  • Krochak, Gerry. "Pure energy; Hedley shows Dome crowd why the band is mainstay of Canadian rock scene." Calgary Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), May 14, 2016

  • "UPDATED: Hedley will no longer perform at JUNOs after sexual misconduct allegations." Abbotsford News, The (British Columbia, Canada), February 14, 2018. 

  • News, CBC. "Hedley dropped by management, but some fans still back the band." CBC (Canada), February 16, 2018. 

  • News, CBC. "Hedley fans turn out to Manitoba concert despite sexual misconduct allegations." CBC (Canada), February 16, 2018.

  • News, CBC. "Hedley to take 'indefinite hiatus' once current tour ends." CBC (Canada), February 28, 2018. 

  • Press, The Canadian. "Calgary radio host accuses Hoggard." Calgary Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), March 1, 2018

  • News, CBC. "Jacob Hoggard accuser says singer's apology 'not enough'." CBC (Canada), March 1, 2018. 

  • Press, The Canadian. "Cops investigating Hedley frontman." Calgary Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), March 17, 2018

  • "Embattled band Hedley plays last show in B.C. before hiatus." Abbotsford News, The (British Columbia, Canada), March 24, 2018. 

  • News, CBC. "Lead singer of rock band Hedley arrested, charged with sexual assault." CBC (Canada), July 23, 2018. 

  • News, CBC. "Hedley singer's behaviour got worse with fame and went unchecked by those around him, ex-drummer says." CBC (Canada), November 8, 2018. 

  • "Crown alleges Hedley singer violently raped teen girl, woman in 2016 incidents." Abbotsford News, The (British Columbia, Canada), May 5, 2022. 

  • Hasham, Alyshah. "Jacob Hoggard violently raped 16-year-old fan, prosecutor says at opening of Hedley singer's trial." Toronto Star, The: Web Edition Articles (Ontario, Canada), May 5, 2022. 

  • Mandel, Michele. "Teen 'repeatedly raped'; Court told Hedley singer met accuser when she was 10." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), May 6, 2022

  • Hasham, Alyshah. "Hedley lead singer Jacob Hoggard turned into 'monster' in hotel room, court hears." Toronto Star, The: Web Edition Articles (Ontario, Canada), May 6, 2022. 

  • Mandel, Michele. "'I need to survive'; She idolized Hedley singer - until he allegedly raped her at 16." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), May 7, 2022

  • Hasham, Alyshah. "16-year-old 'made up' rape claim out of embarrassment, defence says at trial of Hedley's Jacob Hoggard." Toronto Star, The: Web Edition Articles (Ontario, Canada), May 9, 2022. 

  • Hasham, Alyshah. "'His eyes were absolutely terrifying': Woman testifies Hedley's Jacob Hoggard was like a 'psychopath'." Toronto Star, The: Web Edition Articles (Ontario, Canada), May 10, 2022. 

  • Mandel, Michele. "Like 'crazy person'; Hoggard's lawyer asks accuser why she didn't leave." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), May 11, 2022

  • Mandel, Michele. "'Difficult to hear'; Sobbing complainant confronted with secretly taped Hoggard call; Graphic warning; Some readers may find the content disturbing." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), May 12, 2022

  • Hasham, Alyshah. "Woman was bruised, in shock and could barely sit after meeting Hedley's Jacob Hoggard, roommate testifies." Toronto Star, The: Web Edition Articles (Ontario, Canada), May 13, 2022. 

  • Mandel, Michele. "Scoured over 'coarse' texts; Accuser asked repeatedly about 'sexual' messages with rocker." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), May 14, 2022

  • Hasham, Alyshah. "'She was crying and she was hyperventilating': Hedley fan's mom testifies at trial of singer Jacob Hoggard." Toronto Star, The: Web Edition Articles (Ontario, Canada), May 16, 2022.

  • Hasham, Alyshah. "Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard testifies that sexual encounters with complainants were 'passionate' and consensual." Toronto Star, The: Web Edition Articles (Ontario, Canada), May 24, 2022.

  • Toronto Star, Alyshah Hasham. "Singer takes stand in defence - Hedley's Hoggard says women consented, denies shaming or harming them." Toronto Star, The (Ontario, Canada), May 25, 2022

  • "Crown alleges Jacob Hoggard is 'sexual opportunist' who didn't take no for an answer." Abbotsford News, The (British Columbia, Canada), May 27, 2022. 

  • Hasham, Alyshah. "'He is not a monster': Defence makes closing arguments in sexual assault trial of Jacob Hoggard." Toronto Star, The: Web Edition Articles (Ontario, Canada), May 27, 2022. 

  • Hasham, Alyshah. "Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault defence 'an affront to common sense,' prosecution says during closing arguments." Toronto Star, The: Web Edition Articles (Ontario, Canada), May 27, 2022. 

  • "Hedley singer Jacob Hoggard facing new sexual assault charge." Abbotsford News, The (British Columbia, Canada), May 31, 2022. 

  • Hasham, Alyshah. "'You ... thought you were above the law': Jacob Hoggard's lawyers slammed over late reveal of secret phone recording." Toronto Star, The: Web Edition Articles (Ontario, Canada), June 1, 2022. 

  • News, CBC. "Former Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard found guilty of sexually assaulting Ottawa woman." CBC (Canada), June 5, 2022. 

  • Hasham, Alyshah. "Hedley's Jacob Hoggard guilty of sexually assaulting young woman, not guilty on counts related to teen fan." Toronto Star, The: Web Edition Articles (Ontario, Canada), June 5, 2022.

  • Michelemandel, Calgary Sun. "Jail will have to wait; Ex-Hedley frontman free on bail after assault conviction, acquitted on other charges." Calgary Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), June 6, 2022

  • Network, Postmedia. "Hoggard awaits sentencing at home; Ex-Hedley frontman's passport revoked as 2nd trial looms." Calgary Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), June 7, 2022

  • Mandel, Michelle. "Hoggard sentencing set for October." Edmonton Sun, The (Alberta, Canada), June 11, 2022

  • Mandel, Michele. "Hoggard acquittals to stand." Toronto Sun, The (Ontario, Canada), July 21, 2022

  • News, CBC. "'I'm the voice that they don't have': Woman behind Twitter crusade against Hedley breaks silence." CBC (Canada), February 27, 2018. 

  • Hasham, Alyshah. "How to understand the jury's split verdict in the sex assault trial of Hedley's Jacob Hoggard." Toronto Star, The: Web Edition Articles (Ontario, Canada), June 6, 2022. 

  • Eitizaz, Saba. "What the Hoggard verdict highlights about consent and sexual violence victims." Toronto Star, The: Web Edition Articles (Ontario, Canada), June 8, 2022. 

Lindsay Eldridge
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