Former Hollywood actor Jason Hoganson was released prematurely from prison in 2024 among hundreds of prisoners freed to cut jail overcrowding
Jason Hoganson, who has passed away aged 55, pictured outside of HMP Durham(Image: PA)
A former actor from Newcastle who assaulted his ex-partner after being released early from prison has died aged 55. Jason Hoganson was released prematurely from HMP Durham on September 10 2024, among hundreds of prisoners freed to cut jail overcrowding.
He played a leading role in the 1987 film Empire State, starring as a Geordie drifter called Pete, but his life spiralled and he fell into drink, drugs and crime.
After being photographed leaving prison in 2024 when he had served half of his 18-month sentence for assaulting his ex-partner Rachel Usher, and breaching a restraining order, Hoganson was once again arrested in the West End of Newcastle when he slapped her at her flat just a day later.
Tragically, she passed away after he was returned to custody, but his trial went ahead anyway, and he was found guilty. At the time, 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 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. He was previously jailed for offences including burglary, saying in an interview in 2012 that he got into trouble after hanging around with the ‘wrong crowd’.
Hoganson was released early in error as part of the scheme to ease overcrowding, one of 37 inmates who were accidentally freed. However, it is understood that he was likely to have been released a few days later anyway under the terms of his original sentence.
R W Barrett & Son Funeral Services have now confirmed that he passed away unexpectedly on April 4, with his funeral set for April 28 at the West Road Crematorium in Newcastle.
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