Former Actor Found Guilty of Assaulting Ex-Partner After Early Release
A former actor has been convicted of assaulting his ex-partner just one day after being released from prison early
Newcastle, UK, Jason Hoganson, Rachel Usher, Assault, Prison Release
Newcastle: A former actor, Jason Hoganson, just got found guilty of assaulting his ex-partner, Rachel Usher, the day after he was released from prison. He was part of a group of inmates let out early to help with overcrowding.
Hoganson, who’s 53 and covered in tattoos, was seen giving a thumbs up as he left HMP Durham on September 10 last year. He had served half of an 18-month sentence for assaulting Usher and breaching a restraining order.
The very next day, he went to Usher’s flat in Newcastle’s West End and slapped her. Sadly, the court heard that Usher had passed away after Hoganson was sent back to jail, but they still went ahead with the trial using her statement.
On Friday, Hoganson was found guilty of assault and two counts of breaching the restraining order. He even got kicked out of the courtroom for shouting at the prosecutor during his testimony.
The restraining order had been in place since July 2023, preventing him from contacting Usher in any way. He had already been jailed for breaching that order and assaulting her back in December 2023.
During the trial, a letter from Hoganson to Usher was presented, where he professed his love for her while he was still in prison. Usher had shared that they were in a relationship for about six years, and he had a history of violence against her.
On the day of the incident, Usher was leaving her flat when she spotted Hoganson running toward her. He slapped her hard across the face and yelled at her, accusing her of being with someone else.
She called the police, and Hoganson started banging his head against a wall in frustration. Usher described the slap as powerful, even though she didn’t have any visible injuries.
Hoganson claimed he was just there to pick up his belongings from someone else in the building, but his story didn’t hold up. The judge found him guilty, saying his version of events didn’t match the CCTV footage.
Now, Hoganson is set to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on February 25. He was one of 37 inmates released by mistake as part of a plan to reduce overcrowding, but it seems he would have been out soon anyway.