Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard opts for jury over judge-alone sexual assault trial

CTV National News: Hoggard gets 5 years in jail Jacob Hoggard was given five years in prison after he was convicted of sexual assault. Judy Trinh reports.

Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has elected to be tried for sexual assault before a jury, rather than by judge alone.

The Hedley frontman is facing a sexual assault charge for an incident alleged to have happened on June 25, 2016, in Kirkland Lake, Ont.

A lawyer for Hoggard told a Haileybury, Ont., court Wednesday that the musician has opted to have his case heard in the Superior Court of Ontario.

Hoggard's next appearance is slated for Jan. 19 before a trial scheduling court.

He was originally charged in March with sexual assault causing bodily harm, but prosecutors later said they would proceed instead with a lesser charge of sexual assault.

Hoggard was granted bail in a separate case in October after launching an appeal of his five-year sentence for sexually assaulting an Ottawa woman.

(The Canadian Press)