Jury Finds Former NFP Leader Guilty of Sexual Assault
13 February 2018 at 1:05 pm
The founder and former managing director of disability support organisation Lifestyle Solutions, David Hogg, has been found guilty of a single count of sexual intercourse without consent.
The jury chairman announced the verdict at a District Court trial in Sydney on Friday.
The conviction relates to an incident on 29 July 1988 when Hogg – then a married 35-year-old Baptist minister – had sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old school girl who was known to him, by way of digital penetration, without her consent.
Hogg remains on bail until April.
The Newcastle Herald reported that Judge Antony Townsend said it was likely he was facing a custodial sentence.
But Hogg’s lawyer, Hugo Aston from Aston Legal Solicitors and Barristers, told Pro Bono News he “anticipated” they would be appealing the conviction.
Hogg, who was a winner of Pro Bono Australia’s 2015 Impact 25 award, established not-for-profit organisation Lifestyle Solutions, which provides national support services for people with disability and children living in out-of-home care, in 2001.
He stepped down from his role of managing director in June 2016 and Lifestyle Solutions has confirmed that he no longer has any involvement with the organisation.
“The events that were the subject of Mr David Hogg’s trial occurred in 1988 and predate the inception of Lifestyle Solutions,” a spokesperson for Lifestyle Solutions told Pro Bono News.
“Mr Hogg ceased working with us in June 2016 and has not been a director or an employee of the organisation since that time.
“We have an absolute commitment to the protection of our staff, the people we support, children and vulnerable persons in our community.”
In light of the guilty verdict Pro Bono Australia has taken the decision to remove Hogg from the Impact 25 list.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au.
