[10] On September 22, 2020, Hopkins pleaded no contest to indecent assault and was sentenced to two years probation[14] and fined $5,000. Advertisement Allentown News George Hopkins. Shes four years removed from the corps now, and married. Ryan Macpherson, who hails from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota, will start his work as dean of the college on Aug. 1. organization was immediately put on a probationary status by DCI with the statement that, "The terms of the probation include multiple steps for YEA! The Crossmen of San Antonio, Texas perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. Its clear from the video that its been edited, and that the Inquirer has chosen to show only portions of the interview, he said. Caren Blundetto-Frech This would be more appropriately titled as a BLACK SATURDAY sale . Twelve women have told the Inquirer they were sexually harassed or abused by Hopkins over the nearly four decades he served as director of Allentown's famed Cadets, years during which he achieved rock-star-like status in the activity. The judge opined that this situation is very different than, say, a defendants statement to police, a full copy of which would be made available to the defense by the prosecution. The Cadets Drum Corps (formerly the Holy Name Cadets, Cadets of Garfield, Garfield Cadets, and Cadets of Bergen County) is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Stuart Evan Rice said in an interview this week that he told Dan Acheson . Tips to help protect your smartphone from thieves, Outlast Forces Lone Wolf Contestants to Embrace Team Dynamics for Netflix Competition, Diego Luna: Andor Ending With Season 2 Is Really Important for My Mental Health. Crews were actively searching for people who were trapped, but having a hard time getting to them. Wyoming teachers are leaving. There was an error processing your request. In 1940, the Cadets won the American Legion Junior National Championship in Boston, the first of a record nine Legion titles the corps would win between 1940 and 1964. Charges were filed against Hopkins in November 2018, months after Youth Education in the Arts launched an investigation after about a dozen women accused Hopkins of sexual misconduct. The dozen women who accused Hopkins of harassment ranged in age from 16 to 37 at the time of the alleged incidents, which dated to 1980. In the suit, Hopkins denied he was fired by YEA, claiming he left the organization through a mutually agreeable cessation of employment.. The 36-year-old woman addressed Anthony and spoke about years of fear, shame and depression as a result of the crime, which she did not immediately report. George Hopkins, the former director of the Allentown Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps who was accused of sexual misconduct by nearly a dozen women, pleaded no contest to indecent assault and was. CEO while denying the allegations. One former Youth Education in the Arts employee who spoke to Philly.com on condition that she was identified only by her first name, Marie, said Hopkins routinely harassed and assaulted her at work. The former, longtime director of the Allentown Cadets competitive marching band entered a plea Thursday in a sexual assault case dating to 2018. It said it was reaching out to Youth Education in the Arts, and also planned an internal review to see whether any current members of the DCI staff knew about the allegations and failed to report them. Lehigh County Judge James T. Anthony also fined Hopkins $5,000, the most allowed by law, and called him flatly disgusting.. By The Morning Call PUBLISHED: November 14, 2018 at 1:05 a.m. | UPDATED: November 14, 2018 at 1:32 a.m. Names and emails redacted to protect the innocent. At one point, a staff member called members of his section worthless to their faces, because they couldnt march without passing out from untended injuries. The investigation into Hopkins conduct found he had little oversight from the Cadets board, giving him the freedom to throw things when angry in rehearsals, refer to women as little girls, and send inappropriate sexual emails on the organizations server. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. George Hopkins, the former CEO of the Allentown-based Youth Education in the Arts, faces three felony counts of sexual assault for allegedly assaulting two former employees. "I just kept saying no, don't do this, I don't want to do this," said Marie, who said she went by her middle name at work. It carries the same weight at sentencing as a guilty plea. Consent matters.. But this isnt the military. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? Bergstrom reiterated his position that he cant effectively prepare a defense without access to the full interview. For members of the Casper-based Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, summer is hardly a vacation. One possible side effect of the frigid temps? But instead, he encountered a disorganized administrative team that seemed to be improvising on the job. Hopkins, 63, was accused of sexual assault and harassment by numerous women in a 2018 Philadelphia Inquirer article, and was criminally charged in connection with two alleged incidents later that year. (A similar group of Midwestern corps, the Midwest Combine, was formed by the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers.) 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[2][3], In 1958, the Holy Name parish declined to support the corps' travel and disbanded the corps. [17], The Cadets was formerly part of Youth Education in the Arts (YEA! The woman told police that when she stood up to leave the bar, she felt like she was moving in Jello.. There was a problem saving your notification. Error! Not just for [the victim], but for all the women who are taken advantage of by predators like you, the judge said. After their third Finals appearance in 1980, the Cadets quickly regained the corps' former championship form. In response to a question from Anthony, Berry said the paper would hand over the full video recording for the judges review only, if that was the courts ruling. The Govenaires, an all-age/senior corps founded in 1927, retain the title of oldest continuously active corps. ; Last edited on 15 February 2023, at 17:00, United States Scholastic Band Association, "corpsreps.com The Drum Corps Repertoire Database", "Determination: Believing in the Midwest Combine", "Bang the Drum Slowly: A Championship Drum and Bugle Corps Leaves the State", "The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps: A history of alleged sexual abuse", "Statement from the Board of Directors of Youth Education in the Arts", "YEA! Morning Call reporter Laurie Mason Schroeder can be reached at 610-820-6506 or lmason@mcall.com. The reasons why may be about more than money. His credentials, his experience, his talents, his imagination, and his intellect are formidable. On Wednesday, he told Lehigh County Judge James Anthony that the Inquirer has refused to provide the full video. YEA! I think from here on out, theres a new level and a new sense of accountability that we as alumni of the Corps are unified in making sure that these experiences dont happen again, said former Troopers color guard member Vanessa Connell. I want the victims to know that what you did was horrible beyond description, the judge said. They wanted to shed a light on his behavior and for him to have a criminal record, he said. Genesis from Austin, Texas performs during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. This is the resignation letter from the director of USBands (a YEA program that helps fund The Cadets) and reveals some interesting information. ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- The longtime leader of a champion Pennsylvania-based drum and bugle corps has resigned in the wake of a newspaper report that contained allegations of sexual misconduct spanning nearly four decades. As one of the only returning baritones, he was offered the section head spot by Jackson but turned it down I thought I didnt deserve it.. They wanted to shed a light on his behavior and for him to have a criminal record, he said. Falk said the victims were in agreement with the plea negotiation. The charge to which Hopkins pleaded no contest stemmed from a woman who said she was sexually assaulted in 2010. The Alliance members felt that the corps should be making their own rules, operating their own competitions and championships, and keeping the bulk of the monies those shows earned. A tuba player lost feeling in their right hand, he said, and wasnt treated until the next day. All that was claimed to have happened didnt happen. Allentown Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts and Entertainment Inc. in May, stating they lost $1.5 million in sponsorships, donations and ticket sales after the allegations against Hopkins were made public. George Hopkins, the former CEO of the Allentown-based Youth Education in the Arts, faces three felony counts of sexual assault for allegedly assaulting two former employees. Hopkins was also charged with sexually assaulting another woman in Allentown; that charge was dropped as part of an agreement that led to Thursdays plea. In the criminal case, prosecutors alleged Hopkins, of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, sexually assaulted a former employee at his Allentown apartment, after they met at a bar to discuss drum corps rules. An online community dedicated to the marching arts, with a focus on drum corps. Hopkins, George. 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Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. A statement issued late Thursday night by the YEA board of directors, the organization that operates The Cadets, an elite drum and bugle corps, said CEO George Hopkins denies the allegations but . [13] The corps' compliance with the terms of probation was sufficient for DCI to allow the corps to compete in 2018, and the probation was lifted in May 2019. The rehearsal and performance grind wore him down, and he got little help from Jackson a former nurse aside from recommendations to drink coconut water and sit out a few reps. George Hopkins, the former director of Allentown's famed Cadets drum corps, was charged Tuesday with sexually assaulting two former employees, another striking turn in what had been an illustrious, four-decade-long career that took Hopkins to the top of the national youth activity. amid sexual allegations, Allentown Cadets board resigns amid allegations against ex-drum corps director, Defense says accused former drums corps director weighing plea deal. which will ALWAYS take priority over my work. 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I believe you, Calhoun said, I am worthless. In a no-contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. George has 7 jobs listed on their profile. We could soon find out, A windy, cloudy Saturday for the Lehigh Valley, but the sun will come out tomorrow, Six years after hazing death, Penn State plans to drop the Greek life oversight it championed. He's due back in court in February. Instead, Beyer is very much in the public eye, and the defense is asking to see the entire video interview, not a reporters notes, he said. I wholeheartedly believe in the mission and vision of YEA! At the first DCI World Championships in Whitewater, Wisconsin, the Cadets just missed making Finals and finished in thirteenth place in a competition that featured thirty-nine corps from the East, the South, the West Coast, the Midwest and Great Plains, and Canada. . The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. George Hopkins, YEA settle civil suit regarding compensation, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. On April 5, 2018, allegations were made in published reports that the longstanding corps director, George Hopkins, sexually harassed or abused multiple members of the corps and staff over a period of years. The story of George's van trip to Mississippi and Louisiana Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? Nine women from Allentowns elite Cadets drum corps accuse director George Hopkins of sexual abuse and harassment, he sued the organization for more than $580,000. In addition, YEA! Hopkins also served as CEO of the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts. In both cases, the women say after meeting with Hopkins on business, they were drugged and sexually assaulted. If you forget to do a step-off, someones going to collide into you with a 20-pound tuba. Im angry. Former Cadets described him as a charismatic leader, while former office workers said he was a volatile, often verbally abusive boss. Rescue operations underway as Wyoming blizzard continues to wreak havoc, Applications open for nonprofit 1-cent funding, Global race is on to improve EV range in the cold, Gordon discusses importance of focusing on Wyoming solutions, Moscow reportedly threatened new parents in Ukraine: Register your newborns as Russian or else, The impact of climate change will be felt worse in these three U.S. cities. The corps felt that not only were they having their creative potential as artistic performing groups stifled, but they were being financially starved. 1 / Adagio for Strings / Medea's Dance of Vengeance, The Promise of Living (from The Tender Land) / Lincoln Portrait / Music for the Theater, Mvts. It took a summer without performances, said Connell, for people to step back and realize that what they thought was tough love was actually systemic negligence. Please know, you lose many, many GREAT people because of the reasons I listed and more. They sleep on hard gym floors, take water breaks on the run and get an average of one day off per month. You need complete concentration on everything you do because if you dont, you could get someone else hurt or you can hurt yourself, Calhoun said. Youth Education in the Arts governs the Allentown Cadets drum corps. Two more women say they were raped by George Hopkins, bringing to 11 the number who have accused the former drum and bugle corps director of sexual misconduct. Now, she told Hopkins, who stood a few feet from her in the courtroom, she feels stronger than ever. and USBands affects the lives of tens of thousands of students each year and I feel humbled to have played a small part in that. The whistleblowers say they went public after receiving a feeble response from the Troopers legal team. Hopkins, 61, has not been charged and denies criminal wrongdoing. [2][3][4], In 1972, the Garfield Cadets, along with the nine other corps from the Alliance and the Midwest Combine, plus the Anaheim Kingsmen, Argonne Rebels, and De La Salle Oaklands were founding members of Drum Corps International, which remains as the sanctioning body for junior corps in North America. "For 86 years, The Cadets have been leaders and innovators in performing arts education," Bonfiglio said. Beyer, who said Hopkins assaulted her after she went to work for the corps, watched his plea and sentencing Thursday, but did not speak in court. She told police that she passed out in his apartment and, when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. for more than $650,000 in severance and back pay, the organization filed a counter-suit against the former director for $1.5 million in losses which it alleges to have lost due to the sexual misconduct scandal. Tips to help protect your smartphone from thieves, Outlast Forces Lone Wolf Contestants to Embrace Team Dynamics for Netflix Competition, Diego Luna: Andor Ending With Season 2 Is Really Important for My Mental Health. The Allentown Cadets drum and bugle corps lost sponsors, donors and engagements because of sexual misconduct allegations against its then-director George Hopkins. 93 (Mvts. George Hopkins, the director of The Cadets, talks about the 2017 show, "The Faithful, The Fallen, The Forgiven." George talks about the process of designing the show, the use of the singers, the three different uniforms worn by the corps, and about the issues the activity is facing around amplification Read more JESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer There is an interview with Beyer that is readily available to the public that will allow the Bergstrom to build his defense, Berry argued. In February 2023, CAE announced a long-term partnership with the Erie Sports Center, resulting in a decision to move The Cadets and all operations of CAE to Erie, Pa. he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. As temperatures have plunged this winter, water use has risen. She said Hopkins words on social media after the allegations became public in 2018 were a constant source of anxiety. Hopkins needs Help From George Hopkins . Hopkins, the longtime director of the famed drum corps, resigned in April after nine women whose stories spanned four decades told the Inquirer and Daily News he had sexually harassed or abused them. Also in '96, the Cadets performed at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. won with field programs that were, and still are, viewed as ground-breaking. They became the 507 Hornets -- I marched there from 1971-1974. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors withdrew two charges of felony sexual assault and added the indecent assault count, a misdemeanor, to which Hopkins pleaded no contest. Through his attorney, Hopkins said he did not know who Marie is, but denied her allegation. This has directed more than enough negative attention to the Cadets when in reality, it should be pointed at George Hopkins himself. U kunt uw keuzes te allen tijde wijzigen door te klikken op de links 'Privacydashboard' op onze sites en in onze apps. George Hopkins has been charged in Lehigh County with two counts of sexual assault. Connell said she never had any problems with Jackson herself, but was hurt indirectly watching her close friends being neglected or silenced. "Dear George Hopkins, This letter is to inform you of my resignation as Director of USBands, effective immediately. Bergstrom said the Inquirer interviewed Jessica Beyer in April 2018 and publicly aired the four to five-minute video. In her 2018 account to The Inquirer, that woman, Jessica Beyer, said she had marched with the Cadets and was hired to work for the group the following year at age 22. Through his attorney, Hopkins denied "any nonconsensual relations" with the sisters and also denied having "any relations whatsoever" with Lee Ann Riley while she was a minor. George Hopkins 260 Followers Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 1968-2019). Shortly after, more victims came forward, and the accounts of two of these women became the basis of the criminal charges brought in November 2018. View George Hopkins' profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. After the summer of 2020, the first summer in years without a Troopers tour, Ian Calhoun said he started to hear from friends hed made at the corps who were interested in reporting some of their experiences to the advocacy group MAASIN (Marching Arts Access, Safety & Inclusion Network). In 1950, the Cadets went on the road for three weeks in order to defend their Legion title in Los Angeles. Copyright 2023 by The Associated Press. The woman addressed Anthony in court, telling him of years of fear, shame, and depression as a result of the crime, which she did not immediately report. I dont know a single person who marched drum corps and didnt have complaints.. Success! separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts & Entertainment Inc. Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear, Report: Drum corps leader threw things at work, called women little girls, California residents do not sell my data request. After the allegations surfaced, Hopkins resigned in April and was then fired by a new board of directors. She told police that she passed out in his apartment and when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. Folks were upset, nothing new, but this time, the anger took a more aggressive approach. He began as Director in 1983 George Hopkins, who led The Cadets to renown and a slew of national and world championships, stepped down from the Allentown-based group after Philly.com reported Thursday that nine women had. The only ones that thought it was the kiss ass GH puppets/groupies/cult members. First, I want to thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me in this role. Board of Directors Resigns, New Board to Guide Organization", "Former drum corps director George Hopkins charged with sexual assault", "Finding no resignation letter, YEA board fired Hopkins with no severance", "DCI action on YEA! Als u niet wilt dat wij en onze partners cookies en persoonsgegevens voor deze aanvullende doeleinden gebruiken, klik dan op 'Alles weigeren'. I expect my final paycheck on October 18 which should include the agreed upon amount for moving expenses that has not been paid since starting in February 2017. She said she told Hopkins no but was unable to fight off his sexual advances. Renowned drum corps leader resigns amid abuse allegations. Im still standing and using my voice to say what you did was wrong, she said. It wasnt rape, and it wasnt sexual assault, Bergstrom said. "This is a painful moment for all those who care about The Cadets," Youth Education in the Arts, the nonprofit that runs The Cadets, said in a statement on its website. Vicki Ferrence Ray, Interim Executive Director of CAE, subsequently signed an agreement to make the Erie Sports Center The Cadets' year-round home. But even after he was let go, Connell said he was still allowed around corps members who knew what had happened and had reported him to the administration because he was the organizations connection to the housing site where they were staying. Berry cited precedent in which a federal court found that the defense had not exhausted all other avenues for getting information before a media outlet was forced to hand over an interview. Fine time to ask me now. During his tenure, Hopkins took the Cadets to 10 world championships and was an icon in the drum corps community. After the hearing, Hopkins' lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, called the probationary sentence a fair result and said there were many inconsistencies in the accusers' stories.

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