Latest news with #Hoganson
The Independent
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Heavily-tattooed former actor guilty of assaulting ex-girlfriend day after early prison release
A former Hollywood actor has been found guilty of attacking his former partner the day after he was released from prison under a scheme to cut jail overcrowding. Heavily tattooed Jason Hoganson, 53, was photographed raising a thumb as he was released from HMP Durham on September 10 last year, having served half of an 18-month jail sentence for assaulting his ex-partner Rachel Usher and breaching a restraining order. The following day he was arrested in Newcastle 's West End after going to Ms Usher's flat and slapping her. Hoganson, who had a leading role in the 1987 film Empire State, has now been returned to custody and is facing further time behind bars for the assault. A court heard Ms Usher had since 'very sadly passed away' on 30 October, but a district judge ruled that a trial should still go ahead with her statement as evidence. He was found guilty of assaulting Ms Usher and two counts of breaching a restraining order by going to her home on September 11 and sending her a letter from prison a week earlier. The defendant was removed from court in the middle of his evidence after he started shouting obscenities at prosecutor Lisa Callum, and was not present to hear the verdict. Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard a restraining order was made in July 2023 banning Hoganson from contacting Ms Usher 'in any way whatsoever'. He was jailed in August last year for breaching that order and assaulting Ms Usher in December 2023. By the time he was sentenced he had already served most of his 18-month term on remand. The court was shown a letter, found to have been written by Hoganson, sent to Ms Usher from HMP Durham telling her he loved her. A statement from Ms Usher read by Ms Callum said the two had been in a relationship for about six years and Hoganson 'used to hit me all the time'. The statement said: 'I'm aware he was released two days ago – earlier than he should have been.' Ms Usher said on September 11 she was leaving her flat to go to the shops and was waiting for a lift when she saw Hoganson running towards her. She said: 'He opened the door of the stairwell and slapped me across the side of my face. 'He was shouting and bawling and seemed really angry. He called me a slut and said there was someone in my flat. 'He said can we go somewhere and when I said no he got even more angry.' Ms Usher said she called the police and Hoganson started to hit his head on an electrical box on the wall. Her statement read: 'I do not have any injuries but the slap was powerful. There was a lot of force behind it.' Ms Usher also described how receiving the prison letter 'made me feel horrible and sick inside'. Hoganson told the court: 'I was released with the 1,500 that were released on September 10 last year but … I'd done my full half of the 18 months.' Hoganson denied the offences, claiming he went to the block of flats to get his belongings from a man who lived five floors above Ms Usher. He said he went to get the lift back to the ground floor and saw Ms Usher when it stopped on her floor. Hoganson told the court: 'Obviously she panicked. She came straight for me and went to attack me. I've moved out of the way down the stairs. I've never attacked Rachel. 'I never even spoke to her, I just wanted to get out of there.' Asked by Ms Callum why the man who had his belongings was not in court to corroborate his story, Hoganson accused the man of 'having an affair' with Ms Usher while he was in prison, and started shouting obscenities, ultimately being removed from court. Defence lawyer Mark Styles said the defendant had been 'unable to process' the loss of Ms Usher because he has been in custody, and had experienced a deterioration in his mental health. Deputy District Judge Natalie Wortley found Hoganson guilty of all three charges, saying she was satisfied he was the author of the letter, and that his account of stumbling when Ms Usher 'darted at him' was inconsistent with CCTV footage from the building which showed him deliberately striking the wall. The judge adjourned the case for Hoganson to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on February 25. Hoganson was released early in error as part of the scheme to ease overcrowding, one of 37 inmates who were accidentally freed. But it is understood that he was likely to have been released a few days later anyway under the terms of his original sentence.
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Actor guilty of assault the day after jail release
A former actor has been found guilty of attacking his ex-partner the day after he was released early from prison. Jason Hoganson, 53, left HMP Durham on 10 September, having served half an 18-month jail sentence for assaulting Rachel Usher and breaching a restraining order. The following day he was arrested in Newcastle's West End after going to Ms Usher's flat and slapping her. Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard how Ms Usher had died after Hoganson was returned to custody but a district judge ruled the trial should go ahead with her statement as evidence. Hoganson, who had a leading role in 1987 film Empire State, was among hundreds of prisoners released early in a bid to cut jail overcrowding. On Friday he was found guilty of assaulting Ms Usher and two counts of breaching a restraining order by going to her home on 11 September and sending her a letter from prison a week earlier. The court heard Hoganson had been jailed in August for breaching a 2023 court order banning him from contacting Ms Usher and for assaulting her. By the time he was sentenced, he had already served most of his 18-month term on remand. A statement from Ms Usher read by prosecutor Lisa Callum said the two had been in a relationship for about six years and Hoganson "used to hit me all the time". Ms Usher said, on 11 September, she had been waiting for a lift by her flat when Hoganson ran towards her and "slapped me across the side of my face". "I do not have any injuries but the slap was powerful," she said. "There was a lot of force behind it. "He was shouting and bawling and seemed really angry," she said. Ms Usher said she called the police and Hoganson started to hit his head on an electrical box on the wall. Hoganson denied the offences, claiming he went to the block of flats to get his belongings from a man who lived there. Asked by Ms Callum why the man was not in court to corroborate his story, Hoganson accused him of "having an affair" with Ms Usher while he was in prison. He started shouting obscenities and was removed from court. Defence lawyer Mark Styles said the defendant had been "unable to process" the loss of Ms Usher because he has been in custody, and his mental health had deteriorated. Deputy District Judge Natalie Wortley found Hoganson guilty of all three charges. He is due to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on 25 February. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@ Prisoners to be released early to ease overcrowding Actor found after 'evading arrest' Actor freed early from prison is rearrested How many people are in prison and who is being released early from jail? HM Courts & Tribunals Service
BBC News
26-01-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Former actor released early from HMP Durham attacked ex-partner
A former actor has been found guilty of attacking his ex-partner the day after he was released early from prison. Jason Hoganson, 53, left HMP Durham on 10 September, having served half an 18-month jail sentence for assaulting Rachel Usher and breaching a restraining following day he was arrested in Newcastle's West End after going to Ms Usher's flat and slapping Magistrates' Court heard how Ms Usher had died after Hoganson was returned to custody but a district judge ruled the trial should go ahead with her statement as evidence. Hoganson, who had a leading role in 1987 film Empire State, was among hundreds of prisoners released early in a bid to cut jail Friday he was found guilty of assaulting Ms Usher and two counts of breaching a restraining order by going to her home on 11 September and sending her a letter from prison a week earlier. 'Powerful slap' The court heard Hoganson had been jailed in August for breaching a 2023 court order banning him from contacting Ms Usher and for assaulting the time he was sentenced, he had already served most of his 18-month term on remand. A statement from Ms Usher read by prosecutor Lisa Callum said the two had been in a relationship for about six years and Hoganson "used to hit me all the time".Ms Usher said, on 11 September, she had been waiting for a lift by her flat when Hoganson ran towards her and "slapped me across the side of my face"."I do not have any injuries but the slap was powerful," she said."There was a lot of force behind it."He was shouting and bawling and seemed really angry," she Usher said she called the police and Hoganson started to hit his head on an electrical box on the wall. Removed from court Hoganson denied the offences, claiming he went to the block of flats to get his belongings from a man who lived by Ms Callum why the man was not in court to corroborate his story, Hoganson accused him of "having an affair" with Ms Usher while he was in started shouting obscenities and was removed from lawyer Mark Styles said the defendant had been "unable to process" the loss of Ms Usher because he has been in custody, and his mental health had District Judge Natalie Wortley found Hoganson guilty of all three is due to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on 25 February.
