Background
Jacob Hoggard was charged in 2022 for an alleged sexual assault in Kirkland Lake on June 25, 2016.
His former band had performed the night before at the small town’s homecoming festival.
In December 2022, he elected to be tried by a jury rather than by a judge alone.
Fourteen jurors were selected Monday, including two alternates. The two alternates were dismissed as the testimony got underway.
Tremblay is presiding over the trial at the Haileybury courthouse.
The case is being prosecuted by Crown Attorney Lilly Gates and Assistant Crown Attorney Peter Keen while Hoggard is being defended by attorneys Megan Savard and Kally Ho.
Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Dalton Crockett, the lead investigator in the case, is sitting behind the Crown attorney’s table and expects to be present throughout the trial.
Hoggard stood up in court Monday morning and pled not guilty to the sexual assault charges.