TORONTO –
Jacob Hoggard will remain behind bars while he tries to appeal his sexual assault conviction at Canada’s top court, a justice with Ontario’s Appeal Court ruled Friday, calling the musician’s attempt unlikely to succeed.
Justice Jill Copeland heard arguments at a bail hearing for Hoggard earlier this week, shortly after the Hedley frontman began serving his five-year sentence.
“At this stage of the proceedings, where the applicant’s conviction has been unanimously affirmed by this court and it appears unlikely that he will be granted leave to appeal, I am satisfied that the public interest in enforcing the sentence imposed on the applicant outweighs his interest in a second review of his conviction,” Copeland wrote in her decision.
“If the Supreme Court of Canada grants leave to appeal, the balance may change and a reassessment of …