Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard was sentenced to 5 years in prison by a Toronto decide on Thursday.
It was the third and remaining day of a sentencing listening to that started earlier this month.
Hoggard, the previous lead singer of rock band Hedley, was discovered responsible of sexual assault inflicting bodily hurt in June after raping an Ottawa girl in 2016.
The Crown was in search of a sentence of six to seven years for Hoggard, whereas the defence proposed a extra lenient sentence of three to 4 years.
“Mr. Hoggard’s conviction and sentence sends a message to our neighborhood that sexual violence won’t be tolerated by our neighborhood, by anybody,” mentioned Crown lawyer Jill Witkins in an announcement to the media.
Immediately after the decide learn her sentence, the defence requested for a moment for Hoggard to say goodbye to his spouse. The two held one another till Hoggard was cuffed and led away.
Hoggard pleaded not responsible to two counts of sexual assault inflicting bodily hurt at his trial in June. His attorneys had argued that Hoggard had consensual intercourse with the complainant.
The girl was in her early twenties when Hoggard, who’s from B.C.’s Lower Mainland, assaulted her in a Toronto lodge room. She can’t be recognized beneath a publication ban.
A jury deliberated for six days and twice discovered itself deadlocked on “some counts” earlier than discovering Hoggard responsible of sexual assault inflicting bodily hurt.
Hoggard was additionally charged with sexual assault inflicting bodily hurt towards a 16-year-old fan and sexual interference involving that complainant, however was discovered not responsible on these fees.