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I want to see what else is in that video that is dramatically different than what she told detectives two months later, Bergstrom said. Morning call file photo/Special to The Morning Call, Former Allentown Cadets band leader pleads no, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Former Allentown Cadets band leader pleads no contest to indecent assault; judge calls him disgusting, Trump supporters who drove Hummer with guns and ammo to Philadelphia vote-counting site spared more jail time, Paul Muschick: Would money motivate Pennsylvania businesses to move to a four-day work week? A Chicago law firm has exonerated suspended Youth Education in the Arts employee Sean King. Anthony warned Hopkins that if he violated any conditions of probation he could be sent to a state prison. George Hopkins 260 Followers Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 1968-2019). Hopkins: Briefly, after I personally assisted the project in 1996 (Chris Marino was the chairman of the board for the Crossmen), YEA! Not just for [the victim], but for all the women who are taken advantage of by predators like you, the judge said. 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. Hopkins is facing two sexual assault charges after nearly a dozen women came forward with allegations in 2018. 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A tuba player lost feeling in their right hand, he said, and wasnt treated until the next day. 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. George Hopkins pleaded no contest in Lehigh. In written remarks later directed at Hopkins, she said she had joined the Cadets bright-eyed, eager, and innocently believing that through hard work and integrity most things were possible., Instead, she said, working for the Cadets meant being subjected to verbal and sexual abuse. An order filed Tuesday in. Critic: I warned drum corps executive about George Hopkins Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. I cried a little bit," she recalled. Hopkins, 63, is awaiting trial on three counts of felony sexual assault. Chapter 5 Staff changes and letters to the board of directors . The charges are second-degree felonies. "' The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps . George Hopkins, exiting court in Allentown in December 2018, pleaded no contest Thursday to indecent assault. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. [19] On May 1, 2020, The Cadets announced the creation of a new 501(c)3 non-profit organization: Cadets Arts & Entertainment, Inc. The defense maintains that the video is very different than what Beyer later told investigators and that the entire video is necessary to mount a proper defense. The Cadets - Hopkins needs Help From George Hopkins A | Facebook The corps quickly became one of the top competitive corps in the country. Even snow plows and emergency vehicles were. It wasnt rape and it wasnt sexual assault, Bergstrom said. "He's like, 'Are you all right?' The reasons why may be about more than money. 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. [20] A new Board of Directors was established, led by former CEO and Cadets Director Denise Bonfiglio. Follow More from Medium Mark. he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. Shes four years removed from the corps now, and married. George Hopkins resigned as director of the Cadets, an elite drum corps based in Allentown, Pa., after nine women accused him of sexual misconduct. GEORGE HOPKINS 1983 - present George Hopkins, better known as "Hop" to his friends and marching Cadets, is the current Director of our corps, as well as the longest serving (25 years and still going strong). If you forget to do a step-off, someones going to collide into you with a 20-pound tuba. Did march in the band at West Chester University in Pennsylvania for one year. In 1950, the Cadets went on the road for three weeks in order to defend their Legion title in Los Angeles. Report clears former Cadets employee ensnared in boss's sexual Lehigh County Judge James T. Anthony also fined Hopkins $5,000, the most allowed by law, and called him flatly disgusting.. says every person associated with its drum corps programs must sign a code of conduct, , There's another twist in the ongoing investigation over sexual assault allegations targeting, Documents obtained by 69 News appear to show former Youth Education in the Arts CEO and Alle, The investigation into sexual misconduct allegations at the Allentown Cadets drum and bugle , The organization that oversees Allentown's famed Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. Not just for [the victim] but for all the women who are taken advantage of by predators like you, Anthony said. I just felt like, Well, youre right. DCI.org: For the uninitiated, give us a brief history of YEA!'s relationship with the Crossmen. A few times in my life I have tried to work with an executive assistant. 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. The woman told police that when she stood up to leave the bar, she felt like she was moving in Jell-O.. Defense in sex assault case wants newspaper to hand over accuser's 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. Falk said the women were in agreement with the plea deal. 253 votes, 88 comments. 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. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. The story of George's van trip to Mississippi and Louisiana 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. agreed to take over the assets and liabilities of the Crossmen in 1997. 10 in E minor, Op. 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). 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. Im still standing and using my voice to say what you did was wrong, she said. Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. Allentown Cadets hit hard financially by sexual misconduct scandal In 1937, the corps song, "O Holy Name", was written for the corps. Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? Renowned drum corps leader resigns amid abuse allegations 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. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. 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. Bergstrom argued that the states shield laws do not apply in this case as the Inquirer is not protecting a confidential source or communication. The former, longtime director of the Allentown Cadets competitive marching band entered a plea Thursday in a sexual assault case dating to 2018. I was just going to say, check his will! Ex-Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins charged with sexual assault 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. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. 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. Hopkins earned about $177,000 in 2017, according to the nonprofit's financial statements. The corps would fail to make DCI Finals for the first three years they were held and for six of DCI's first eight seasons. [2][3], In 1958, the Holy Name parish declined to support the corps' travel and disbanded the corps. To honor their 75th anniversary, the corps was called the Holy Name Cadets for the 2009 season. Als u uw keuzes wilt aanpassen, klik dan op 'Privacyinstellingen beheren'. After the hearing, Hopkins' lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, called the probationary sentence a fair result and said there were many inconsistencies in the accusers' stories. The. Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. [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. They dont eat lunch until their section is perfectly lined up by twos. 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(A similar group of Midwestern corps, the Midwest Combine, was formed by the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers.) 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]. gant \er--gnt, a-r-\ : having or showing the insulting attitude of people who believe that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people : having or showing arrogance.thats GH. 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. For those who outright pretty much called me a liar, Lillian Petrullo-Yocovelli Thx you Caren Blundetto-Frech!! 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. Allentown's Cadets drum and bugle corps forming non-profit, separating from YEA! Broke-down buses, Ibuprofen, and a sex offender: On the road with There, she said, he gave her a glass of wine and sexually assaulted her. 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. 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. It carries the same weight at sentencing as a guilty plea. They sleep on hard gym floors, take water breaks on the run and get an average of one. 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.". George Hopkins, longtime director of the Cadets drum corps, resigns after sexual misconduct allegations April 6, 2018, 7:20 AM The decorated director of The Cadets drum and bugle corps. 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. Anthony warned Hopkins that if he violated any conditions of probation, he could be sent to a state prison. First, I want to thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me in this role. They wanted to shed a light on his behavior and for him to have a criminal record, he said. Drum and bugle corps perform intricate routines that incorporate music, marching, dance and color guards. 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. Cadets Drum Corps Sep 1982 - Apr 2018 35 years 8 months . . Exercise was often used as punishment for messing up. Brisk with west to northwest winds around 10-20mph gusting to 30mph.. Mostly cloudy with less wind and a few breaks in the clouds overnight. Hopkins was forced out as director of the . Former Allentown Cadets band leader pleads no contest to indecent An online community dedicated to the marching arts, with a focus on drum corps. organization was immediately put on a probationary status by DCI with the statement that, "The terms of the probation include multiple steps for YEA! April 13, 2018. [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. Former drum corps leader pleads no contest to indecent assault; judge 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. The Troopers Alumni band open during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. (YEA), the umbrella group that operates the Cadets and also serves 60,000 marching band . A six-month investigation into Allentown's Youth Education in the Arts is now complete. 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. Now, she told Hopkins, who stood a few feet from her in the courtroom, she feels stronger than ever. In July, he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. In a high-profile case that came to light in 2018, a former director of the Allentown Cadets was accused of sexual misconduct ranging from verbal harassment to rape by 12 women, several of them former corps members. George Hopkins has been charged in Lehigh County with two counts of sexual assault. The Scouts, however, have not competed on the field since 2015, making The Cadets the oldest continuously active junior corps. 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. 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.. ", She said she didn't file a rape report or inform the board of directors because Hopkins seemed "untouchable.". 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. The Cadets has long been one of the top programs, attracting teens and young adults from around the world. He joined the staff of the Cadets in 1979 as percussion instructor and arranger, moving up to become Assistant Director under Dr. Santo . "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. He resigned from his post in early April amid sexual assault allegations, but the YEA board said it was firing Hopkins. These sort of militaristic rituals, paired with constant reminders about how grateful members should be for their spot on the corps, foster a culture of negligence that came to light last month when several former members went public with allegations, leading to the resignation of former corps director Kristy Jackson. As presented, the Cadets did turn to Black renditions of the Cadets uniforms at the end of 2015. Hopkins had worked for The Cadets since 1979 and became director in 1982, coaching the team to 10 world titles. 2; Steve Vickers, ed. The truth about George Hopkins : r/drumcorps - reddit Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Success! Advertisement Allentown News Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? 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. Chief Deputy District Attorney Matthew Falk said the woman in the 2008 allegation decided that not pursuing these charges are in her best interest, and we support her in that.. Falk said the victims were in agreement with the plea negotiation. Lehigh County Judge James T. Anthony also fined Hopkins $5,000, the most allowed by law, and called him flatly disgusting.. 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. George Hopkins, YEA settle civil suit regarding compensation, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. Former Cadets described him as a charismatic leader, while former office. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. "We are now opening a new chapter in the storied history of The Cadets by creating a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity guided by the following founding principles: To educate youth from around the globe on the value of teamwork, inclusiveness, kindness, self-expression, and open communication; To create a safe and inclusive environment for all participants; and To enrich lives by teaching critical development skills required for the pursuit of personal excellence.". 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. 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. First, I want to thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me in this role. Abusers like Hopkins benefit from a culture of exclusivity and competition thats common in drum corps. Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. The corps was known not only for its talent but for its traveling to compete. Free Access to this video! 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. Error! These PEOPLE are your most important asset. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. II, III, & IV) by, The Pines of the Appian Way & The Pines of Villa Borghese by, Devotions: Kyrie Eleison, Simple Song, De Profundis, Agnus Dei, Things Get Broken, Pax: Communion, and Offeratory (all from Mass by Leonard Bernstein) with incidental music by Drew Shanefield, Tom Aungst & Omar Carmenates, O Holy Name (Traditional) / Opening Scene by Drew Shanefield, Tom Aungst, and Omar Carmenates / Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel / Sensemaya by, Adrenaline City by Adam Gorb / St. Louis Blues by, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990 (tie), 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1983, 1984 (tie), 1987 (tie), 1990 (tie), 1993, 1998, 1983, 1984 (3-way tie), 1985 (tie), 1987 (tie), 1995 (3-way tie), This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 17:00. I get they try to model it like the military, and in the military, youre only as strong as your weakest link, Calhoun said. That might be because people are running their faucets to keep pipes from freezing. Success! Midway through the 1959 season, the parish allowed the corps to once more wear the uniform that remains their trademark. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? In 1998, the corps rebranded once again, dropping any reference to locale from its name and becoming simply The Cadets. Casper nonprofits can now apply for 1-cent funding through the city's official application process. Edwin Garrity of the Holy Name Catholic parish in Garfield, New Jersey founded the Holy Name Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps in 1934 as an activity for the boys in the parish. Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On, Shania Twain 'uncontrollably fragile' after husband's affair, 48 Hours: Natalie Morales Reveals How Social Media Helped Solve Case, Uriah Heep believe they have 'some merit' to be considered for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame entry, Amanda Seyfried wants to a role in movie version of Mean Girls: The Musical, Aaron Taylor-Johnson joins Nosferatu remake.