The Cadets from Allentown, Pennsylvania perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. A Failure to Protect - Inquirer.com [7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! They sleep on hard gym floors, take water breaks on the run and get an average of one. Marching as the Cadets of Garfield; wearing uniforms of white shorts, red golf shirts, and "Aussie" hats; and using instruments borrowed from the Chicago Cavaliers, the corps managed to finish in second place (one spot ahead of the defending champion Cavaliers). Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? They dont eat lunch until their section is perfectly lined up by twos. This action was taken in reaction to the rigid, inflexible rules of the American Legion and VFW (the primary rule makers and sponsors of both corps and shows) and the low or nonexistent performance fees paid for appearing in the various competitions. Caren Blundetto-Frech John Hannigan, is there more than one child? In 2022, The Cadets entered into a partnership with the Erie Sports Center as the new spring training site for the corps' May-June rehearsals. 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. Hopkins also served as CEO of the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts. [22][23], At the annual World Championship Finals, Drum Corps International (DCI) presents awards to the corps with the high average scores from prelims, semifinals, and finals in five captions. YEA! Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. He followed that with eight additional DCI World Championships, most What is clear ---I need an assistant. 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. Bergstrom reiterated his position that he cant effectively prepare a defense without access to the full interview. Als u uw keuzes wilt aanpassen, klik dan op 'Privacyinstellingen beheren'. George Hopkins, the former director of the Allentown Cadets drum and bugle corps who was accused of sexual misconduct by a dozen women, pleaded no contest on Thursday to indecent assault and was sentenced to two years of probation. Hopkins: Briefly, after I personally assisted the project in 1996 (Chris Marino was the chairman of the board for the Crossmen), YEA! Error! Two more women say they were raped by Cadets' George Hopkins - Inquirer.com An order filed Tuesday in federal court says Hopkins and YEA have reached an agreement. Did march in the band at West Chester University in Pennsylvania for one year. He joined the staff of the Cadets in 1979 as percussion instructor and arranger, moving up to become Assistant Director under Dr. Santo . His credentials, his experience, his talents, his imagination, and his intellect are formidable. 253 votes, 88 comments. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. It carries the same weight at sentencing as a guilty plea. ), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. In the criminal case, prosecutors allege 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. A few times in my life I have tried to work with an executive assistant. 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 story of George's van trip to Mississippi and Louisiana Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. In 1969, the corps became coed. Genesis from Austin, Texas performs during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. Former Cadet Lee Ann Riley said she was 17 when Hopkins, then 23, forced himself on her and had sex with her. Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps members perform during the corps' 50th anniversary gathering in July 2011. This is art. On the social media site Medium.com former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins writes: , Sexual assault charges have been filed against the former director of the famed Allentown Ca. She said he showed up at her apartment one morning, begged her for sex, then pushed her on the bed and raped her. 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. The former, longtime director of the Allentown Cadets competitive marching band entered a plea Thursday in a sexual assault case dating to 2018. 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George Hopkins - Founder - 11 Rings | LinkedIn You have permission to edit this article. amid sexual allegations, Allentown Cadets board resigns amid allegations against ex-drum corps director, Defense says accused former drums corps director weighing plea deal. As temperatures have plunged this winter, water use has risen. [10] The organization also hired a Chicago labor and employment law firm, Franczek Radelet, to investigate the accusations against Hopkins as well as YEA!s policies and procedures for providing a safe environment for youth members, employees, and volunteers. Hopkins' accusers ranged from 16 to 37 at the time of the abuse and harassment they say they endured, including three who were members of The Cadets and five who worked for Youth Education in the Arts, the parent organization that Hopkins also led as chief executive officer until his resignation. As a member of MAASINs whistleblowing committee, Calhoun helped compile six reports and publicized them in January. In July, he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. During training, 150 members aged 14 to 22 rehearse for 12 hours a day, on their feet from morning to night. also sponsored the recently inactive 2016 DCA Champion Cadets2 Drum Corps, 2014 WGI Independent Open Champion Cadets Winter Percussion, and Cadets Winter Guard; USBands (formerly United States Scholastic Band Association); the Urban Arts Center of the Lehigh Valley, which included the Xcape Dance Studio.[18]. In both cases, the women say after meeting with Hopkins on business, they were drugged and sexually assaulted. The judge did not issue a ruling from the bench on Bergstroms motion. Renowned former drum corps leader charged with sex assault | Fox News Through his attorney, Hopkins said he did not know who Marie is, but denied her allegation. The corps was known not only for its talent but for its traveling to compete. Success! The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps - Wikipedia I believe you, Calhoun said, I am worthless. Read more Kyle Monroe by Tricia L. Nadolny George Hopkins, exiting court in Allentown in December 2018, pleaded no contest Thursday to indecent assault. Newspapers publish newsworthy items all the time, and they cant be dragged into court every single time a defense attorney wants to know what other information is out there, Berry said. 2; Steve Vickers, ed. Hopkins earned about $177,000 in 2017, according to the nonprofit's financial statements. "There were some tears. Im still standing and using my voice to say what you did was wrong, she said. In 198385, the Garfield Cadets became the first DCI corps to earn a three-peatthree consecutive DCI titles. 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. In addition to The Cadets, YEA! Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 1, 2 & 4 / Grover's Corner (from Our Town) & Appalachian Spring, Symphony No. Bergstrom said the Inquirer interviewed Jessica Beyer in April 2018 and publicly aired the four to five-minute video. People are using more water. The Cadets began operating independently of YEA! ACLU says it could take legal action over Saucon Valley School District rescinding approval for After School Satan Club, Big rig crashes from I-81 bridge onto street below in Schuylkill, 'He was a very humble guy': Reading High soccer coach remembers player killed in Route 33 crash, Eat, Sip, Shop: Refresh your ride at new Lehigh County store, selling high-quality car detailing products, Defense says accused former drums corps director weighing plea deal. 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. The charge to which Hopkins pleaded no contest stemmed from one victim who said she was sexually assaulted in 2010 at age 26, and who provided her account to The Inquirer in 2018. On Friday, October 6, 2017, 10:08 PM, XXXX XXXX XXXX@XXXX.com wrote: This letter is to inform you of my resignation as Director of USBands, effective immediately. 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. 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. The. Watch this report from Action News at 4:30pm on April 6, 2018. Since the assault in the apartment occurred in 2010, before a recent amendment to Megans Law, Hopkins is not subject to sexual offender registration. Hopkins, 63, is awaiting trial on three counts of felony sexual assault. As presented, the Cadets did turn to Black renditions of the Cadets uniforms at the end of 2015. The Cadets Drum Corps -The Three Peat | by George Hopkins | Medium Its clear from the video that its been edited, and that the Inquirer has chosen to show only portions of the interview, he said. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. You have permission to edit this article. Its credits include the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, President Barack Obama's first inaugural parade, a reality TV show and "Late Night with David Letterman.". Updated Nov 13, 2018. Lillian Petrullo-Yocovelli GH doesnt love the CADET Organisation he made himself an empire..to support him with his RV and 200K salary plus all the other extras.Laughing at everyone all the way to the bank.. Laura Masker I am not disagreeing with you as far as GH is concerned. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. 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. [9] Claiming to have received no letter of resignation, the new board terminated Hopkins for cause. Overall, the deficit was about $200,000. On November 13, Hopkins was indicted in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania for sexual assault, based on accusations of two women who are former employees of YEA. Never thought for once you were a liar!! agreed to take over the assets and liabilities of the Crossmen in 1997. "' The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps . The truth about George Hopkins : r/drumcorps - reddit Allentown's Cadets drum and bugle corps forming non-profit, separating from YEA! The judge did question how the defense would know if the witness impeached her own testimony on the stand, if it didnt know ahead of time what she may have said in an earlier interview. Cadets Does it Matter What You Wear? | by George Hopkins - Medium The members and staff, however, were not willing to cease the corps operations, and reorganized as a new organization, even though the parish kept the uniforms and instruments. All that was claimed to have happened didnt happen. On Wednesday, he told Lehigh County Judge James Anthony that the Inquirer has refused to provide the full video. The charges are second-degree felonies. Error! Drum Corps International, the sanctioning body for competition youth drum corps events, said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned" by the allegations against Hopkins. 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 2003, Yea! 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 . An order filed Tuesday in. Jackie Fritsche You beat me to it. After their third Finals appearance in 1980, the Cadets quickly regained the corps' former championship form. This is the resignation letter from the director of USBands (a YEA program that helps fund The Cadets) and reveals some interesting information. 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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. "For 86 years, The Cadets have been leaders and innovators in performing arts education," Bonfiglio said. 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 sentenced to two years probation in Lehigh County Court on Thursday. A tuba player lost feeling in their right hand, he said, and wasnt treated until the next day. Defense attorney Thomas Bergstrom had previously filed a motion asking that The Philadelphia Inquirer provide the full and unedited video interview with one of Hopkins accusers that it had produced and published online. which will ALWAYS take priority over my work. Allentown's Cadets drum and bugle corps forming non-profit, separating from YEA! The Troopers and other corps under the Drum Corps International umbrella are now left to reckon with the allegations brought against them on a deeper level, beyond personnel. The woman told police that when she stood up to leave the bar, she felt like she was moving in Jello.. Based in Erie, Pennsylvania, The Cadets was one of the thirteen founding corps of Drum Corps International (DCI), is a ten-time DCI World Champion, and is the oldest continuously active junior drum and bugle corps in North America.[1]. The reasons why may be about more than money. Als u niet wilt dat wij en onze partners cookies en persoonsgegevens voor deze aanvullende doeleinden gebruiken, klik dan op 'Alles weigeren'. George Hopkins, former director of Allentown's elite Cadets drum and bugle corps, pleaded no contest to indecent assault after an Inquirer investigation revealed years of misconduct. 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. All Rights Reserved. The charges stemmed from alleged incidents involving two women. George Hopkins - Medium : p or should it be, willing away the cash cow?Someone sold our souls to this legacy (too) many years ago. The decision to leave wasnt easy, especially since the messaging within the organization encourages members to deal with the hardships or be seen as weak. One in four trooper positions are vacant. 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. During his tenure, Hopkins took the Cadets to 10 world championships and was an icon in the drum corps community. You need to make sure that you are taking care of them. Hopkins did not testify Thursday. New statement from Youth in Education in the Arts on Allentown Cadets Lees ons privacybeleid en cookiebeleid voor meer informatie over hoe we uw persoonsgegevens gebruiken. In a no contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. She told police that she passed out in his apartment and when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. He watched as several other members suffered avoidable injuries from being overworked with little rest. George Hopkins has been charged in Lehigh County with two counts of sexual assault. George Hopkins 247 Followers Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 1968-2019). If you forget to do a step-off, someones going to collide into you with a 20-pound tuba. U kunt uw keuzes te allen tijde wijzigen door te klikken op de links 'Privacydashboard' op onze sites en in onze apps. The Scouts, however, have not competed on the field since 2015, making The Cadets the oldest continuously active junior corps. Fine time to ask me now. I am not a Trooper, Im just a sack of meat, just sitting on the ground being worthless.. Prosecutor Matthew Falk, the offices chef deputy district attorney, said Beyer, the woman in the allegation dating to 2008, decided that not pursuing these charges are in her best interest, and we support her in that. The victim in the 2010 assault has asked not to be named. The charge to which Hopkins pleaded no contest stemmed from a woman who said she was sexually assaulted in 2010. Executive Director, Youth Education in the Arts Director, nine-time DCI World Championship Cadets D&B Corps Social Studies Teacher: Aston Township HS (PA) 1979-80 Band Director: Northern Highlands High School (NJ), 1984 Sean King was named as interim CEO for YEA! George Hopkins on The Cadets 2017 Show | Marching Arts Education [2][3], In the second half of the Sixties, the Garfield Cadets became more of an also-ran than a champion. April 13, 2018. 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. He now is awaiting trial in Lehigh County on charges of sexually assaulting two of the women. To honor their 75th anniversary, the corps was called the Holy Name Cadets for the 2009 season. Defense in sex assault case wants newspaper to hand over accuser's video interview, George Hopkins' defense attorney wants access to the Philadelphia Inquirer's unedited video, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. In 1998, the corps rebranded once again, dropping any reference to locale from its name and becoming simply The Cadets. Hopkins needs Help From George Hopkins . Hopkins surrendered to authorities, was arraigned, and was released on $50,000 bail with a preliminary hearing scheduled for December 4. [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.